A Grim Truth of Percentage

Kangla Macha *

Militants / Naharols / UG	16 %
Ibobi and his coterie	10 %
Respective Department	4 %
Respective Executive Engineer	2 %
Chief and Superintendent Engineer	5 %
Misc Under-Table	3 %
Total	40 %

Fig: Table Showing the kind of corruptions prevailing in Manipur

Keeping the above percentage cut of various groups and departments in the mind, let's see the impact and consequence of these various percentages on a large scale project like the infamous "Bir-Tikendrajit flyover" which was recently inaugurated but, largely remain as symbol corruptions, allegations, delayed project.

First and the only flyover of the Manipur is currently dogged with many controversies and the blame-game is still yet to be over. There are stories doing round that the length of the flyover is shortened. The pavement for walkers was removed etc. Though no officials has accepted or denied any of the charges, the conscience of the every man in the Manipur disagree with the way how the fly-over was built.

Many of the common man will still say that the existing flyover is for ornamental purpose only. It serves little purpose. But, the kind of the inconvenience it created while building for many long years will become a part of the folk-tale down the years.

The common people were put to such hardship by the ever delaying project. Surprisingly, there was no Public Interest Litigation (PIL) from any of the various NGOs existing in Manipur. Perhaps, the general public has also given up the last hope in judiciary also.And, also surprisingly, there were no serious JACs also to the question the Govt. inability to finish the project on time. Perhaps, the common man has also accepted the fact there could be hardly any development in Manipur.

These were few background of the infamous flyover. Now, let's look from the perspective of how many people allegedly earned few hundred lakhs due the flyover. Let's do an imperative study based on the above under-table percentage prevailing in Manipur.

It is said that the total cost of the project was little less than Rs 2500 lakhs. The project was undertaken by MAHUD department and the project was executed by NBCC. NBCC is company based in outside Manipur.

Still, the question why an external company was preferred is still a big question. There was a chance to promote some internal company on such a large scale project. But, current govt. is much happier with current scheme. The chance of generating employment from this kind of project was look-over. Surprisingly, no one from entire fraternity of NGOs and journalists ever dare to venture to such ideas and have the guts to criticize and suggest the government on this regards. Perhaps, a golden chance of employment was thrown away.

Perhaps, the citizens' of Manipur still and strongly believes in the fact the employment means only for state govt. where you literally need to become the highest bidder for the post, good connection and 10 to 2 job. Why should the govt. be afraid of such an ignorant citizens' and care-free?

Almost all departments in the Manipur are dogged by late coming, early going, leave on leave etc. Try to get anything done from any dept of Manipur through proper channels and you'll come to know how ill the every department is. Delays and under-tables have become accepted norms in Manipur. Worst part is we, including you and me, are also part of this fail-ill-system. You can't do much. The story of egg-chicken perfectly fits the Manipur.

Coming back to flyover, it is known fact in Manipur that the so-called each militant charged 2% on any project in Manipur. It can be remembered that there are such 39 groups in Manipur. Assuming that only 8 groups demands were entertained then, it is whopping 2% * 8 = 16% . So, 16% of Rs 2500 lakhs works out to be 400 lakhs. So every group gets around 50 lakhs on building the flyover.

The number of ammunitions and guns bought by this kind of money can start a large scale war. Surprisingly, the common man turns a blind eye to this allegations and the journalist fraternity remains a mere reactive group rather than pro-active.

It is also common known fact that Ibobi and group of Ministry is also know as "percentage CM" and said that they charge 10% for his party fund, personal and other misc things. So 10% of Rs 2500 lakhs works out to be Rs 250 lakhs. Another whopping figure.

No wonder why the buildings of Ibobi and his Minister keep on rising. Why every one from the govt. is on buying spree? But, no one has the guts to question the why our CM is so rich unlike the other states of CM. So, don't be happy when you get a free cup tea from CM's party office. It has come from these kinds of money only. Don't be happy when someone give you Rs 100/- note for the next election. We are also part of the rotten system. Egg and Chicken story.

Now, comes the dept. which is believed to charge 4% of giving approval of the project. MAHUD had undertaken the responsibility of making this project a much delayed and less worthy at the end. Rather, than doing an honest service to the state, the department is also no better than the rest. 4% of Rs 2500 lakhs works out to be Rs 100 lakhs.

Perhaps, this is the reason why every one is ready to pay anything to get into the state govt. service. Perhaps, almost all the employees have a grand bonanza and party for the project. Why every employee can start buying a car, building a new house can be easily explain by this figure. But, the people turn a blind eye. This also explains why there is so much disparity in the poverty-rich of Manipur.

The Executive Engineer(EE) is like the Project Manager is the whole-sole of the project. The success and failure all depends on him. But, morally he should have said sorry or resigned with the kind of the end product being deliver to the people. Rather, he laughed all the way to his secretly kept bank account.

EE is believed to charge 2% for doing and playing the card of favoritism to such project. 2% of Rs 2500 lakhs works out to be 50 lakhs. He is earning as much as one militant group in this kind of project. No wonder he remains quiet throughout this high profile project.

The Chief Engineers and Superindent Engineer who is there to supervise the Executive Engineers with their past experience don't do much better. In fact, they are also part of this ill-system. The Chief and Supertindent Engineer don't spare the blood of this common man.

They also have percentage without which any project can't go beyond them. There is general feeling and allegation that CE and SE together charge round about 5% in the total cost of the project. So, 5% of Rs 2500 lakhs will come to figure of Rs 125/- lakhs.

No wonder why the sons and daughters of these engineers are all doing medicine and engineering in expensive colleges without making it to the merit-list of the state. When they have such money to buy then why should they depend on the state's cut-throat open competition?

There can be many more under-table transaction as many departments are involved in many clearances. Let's take a lump-sum of 3% for the rest of the under-tables. 3% of Rs 2500 lakhs works out to be Rs 75 lakhs which is paid all across the departments of Manipur.

Adding up all the percentage it comes to a whopping figure of 40%. That means Rs 1000 lakhs was paid under-table to get the project through from the total project cost of Rs 2500/- lakhs.

Fig: The above pie-chart shows the various percentage distributions in a project undertaken in Manipur

The pie-chart is shocking truth revealer of how much money is exchange under-hand for a project undertaken in Manipur. The cost of the project and the under-table money given is almost equal. The above pie-chart is with the assumption that the project executioner NBCC had executed the project with utmost honesty and sincerity which is very unlikely.

The figure Rs 1000/- lakhs is incredible but, a grim truth and reminder of the health of the corruption system prevailing in Manipur and also helplessness of the common man.

This works out to be almost half of the project total cost. But, the people of Manipur are generous people so won't make noise for such a patchy work at the end of such a long wait.

Total Fund Allotted	Rs 2500 lakhs
Naharols / Millitants / UG	Rs 400 lakhs
Ibobi and his Coterie	Rs 250 lakhs
MAHUD (concern Department)	Rs 100 lakhs
Concern Executive Engineer	Rs 50 lakhs
Chief Engineer and Superintendent Engineer	Rs 125 lakhs
Misc Under-Tables	Rs 75 lakhs

Fig: Table showing corruption shares in building the flyover

This figure explains why the fly-over was shortened, no pavement, long delayed for many years and difficulties of crossing two heavy vehicles at one time. And, the quality is not good. But, we won't complain. So does our brethren who have come out to die for Manipur.

The CM inspite of many allegations against him fired the first salvo to the so-called militants on the inauguration day for charging them for delaying such a state-of-art project but, no actions are followed afterward and the common man also turn a deaf ear.

The press was more interested in covering the collapsing of the CM on the inauguration. Perhaps, the govt. should save the name of sacred name "Bir Tikendrajit" to be tainted along with this infamous flyover. Except for Tapta who puts everything in a song everyone turns a blind.

We are generous people. This explain why the hockey stadium in Khuman Lampak was collapsed, this explain why the centre has almost stopped financing big projects in Manipur. The big project like Capitol and Sewage project needs to be looked with keen an eye which is already prospect of getting being delayed.

We are not worth to see any development. Rather we should be driven into the jungles. We are worth for nothing.

Time has come to rise else we'll have nothing at the end. No road, no water. Only JACs will remain at the end.

Disclaimer: The above figures are not provided by any officials but, arrive from various sources which work closely in building the fly-over. For the security purpose, their names are with-held.

Related Article by the same writer:

• The Lost Revolution :: Insurgency Opinion

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* Kangla Macha (a pseudonym) contributes regularly to e-pao.net. The writer can be contacted at kangla(dot)macha(at)gmail(dot)com .
This article was webcasted on June 11, 2008.

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