Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 17:
The Assembly Estimate Committee has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the execution of the developmental works implemented by MAHUD Department in Imphal Municipal area.
The Committee headed by MLA Vivej Raj Wangkhem as chairman conducted a spot verification of eight selected works taken up by the Department during 2003-04 and was appalled to see that only two of the works have been executed properly.
The Committee members, accompanied by Government officials and mediapersons, commenced the spot verification drive in the morning at Indira Park, set up next to the famed Gandhi Memorial hall, but were shocked to witness human faeces littered around the park.
Although Rs 2 lakhs had been sanctioned for the task of improving the park during 2003-04, and the MAHUD Department had submitted the work completion report to the Government, there was no sign of any work on maintenance of the park.
The ground was found littered with human excreta, the games equipments installed there all rusted, Lotus pond constructed inside the park overgrown with reeds and grasses and the water fountain out of order for the last one and half years.
On seeing the condition of the Park, an indignant Vivek Raj Wangkhem exclaimed that far from attracting the children to come and play even animals would not like to sneak into the park, much to the discomfiture of MAHUD officials who were present at the occasion.
The red-faced MAHUD officials were grilled thoroughly by the Committee members and they were left fumbling for words to explain the shortcomings.
The next visit at Sagolband Bijoygovinda Temple, where the Government had sanctioned Rs 13 lakhs for the purpose of constructing a water tank, added to the uneasiness of the MAHUD officials, when the MLAs pointed out the work executed was not in consonance with the fund released.
The MLAs also expressed dissatisfaction over the quality of the �completed� work.
The Committee also found out that the ground levelling work of the Children Park set up at Uripok Bachaspati Leikai at an estimated cost of Rs 3 lakhs was not done properly, with tale tell signs of the work being hurriedly done, although MAHUD Department has submitted the report of completion of the work.
After a through grilling, the MAHUD officials finally blurted out that the construction of the main gate and the fencing of the park was done just 15 days back.
As for the money sanctioned for construction of the 270 metre long drainage in the same locality for which Rs 3.5 lakhs had been provided, the Committee expressed serious doubt over whether the work had been actually executed or not.
The MLAs were also dissatisfied over the nature of the work for the construction of a children park just in front of Imphal Meitei Church at Lamphel at an estimated cost of Rs 3 lakhs and a pond at Lalambung at an estimated cost of 5 lakhs.
However, the Committee appreciated the work executed for the construction of a drain near FBC Lamphel at an estimated cost of Rs 3 lakhs and the construction of a retaining wall at Kekrupat for which an amount of Rs 34.74 lakhs had been sanctioned.
Later talking to media persons at the Assembly Committee Room, Vivek Raj said that all the points that the committee had noted during the verification would be mentioned in the recommendations to be submitted by the Committee to the Government.