Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 10 2008:
Alleging that the ongoing major repairing work of the Bheigyachandra Open Air Theatre (BOAT) lacks quality, the Macha Leima has banned any function or programme at BOAT until the repairing is done and completed with due emphasis on maintaining proper quality.
It has also prevented the District Council Engineering Cell to hand over the open air theatre to the concerned Department.
Suspicious of the possibility of the Department concerned and District Council Engineering Cell indulging in corrupt practices, the Macha Leima is also preparing to submit a complaint to the Vigilance Department for investigation into the matter.
Speaking to reporters at its office today, Macha Leima general secretary N Guni Leima conveyed that following complaints from the public about the delay in completing the repairing work and their dissatisfaction over the work quality, an appeal was submitted under RTI to the Art and Culture Director who is also the SPIO on February 8 this year.
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Accordingly, Art and Culture Department gave some information of the repairing work to Macha Leima on February 20.As the information lacked details, a complaint was lodged with the Manipur Information Commissioner on February 28.In response, details of the repairing work was provided on March 8 .
After receiving the details, Macha Leima went to BOAT inspected the repairing work.
But there it was observed that there was huge gap between the information provided on paper and the actual work undertaken, Guni Leima said.
Later on May 12, a joint team of District Council Engineering Cell and engineering experts of Macha Leima made a joint inspection of the repairing work after which a report was submitted to the Art and Culture Director on July 2.This was followed by another inspection visit with the Director on July 14, she recalled.
After the assurance of the Director to complete the repairing work within a short time with proper quality failed to materialise, Macha Leima submitted copies of its fact finding report to the Governor, Chief Minister and other relevant Ministers on September 26.However, there has been no positive response till date, she said.
Guni Leima further clarified that the suspension of programmes/activities in BOAT was not related with the complaint Macha Leima lodged under RTI in its search for details of the repairing work.