Misuse of funds alleged
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 02 2011:
Roads and bridges in Tamei sub division under Tamenglong district are still in the most deplorable condition despite crores of rupees for the construction process already been sanctioned.
A media team had the first hand experience of the condition of the roads and bridges when they went to witness the development works taken up under the state government along with the Zeliangrong Students Union (ZSU) recently.
The team checked the construction of the 11 kms long road from Katang village to Magulong village in Tamei sub division under Tamenglong district and the Bailey suspension bridge on the Barak River connecting Katang Village and Dikiuram village which is 700mts long, the longest in Manipur.
Even though the government has sanctioned crores of rupees to the PWD for the construction of the 11 kms long road from Katang village to Magulong village, the process of cutting jungles for road construction has hardly started till date.
And the Bailey suspension bridge was constructed with very poor quality.
Speaking to media persons, N Kulungba, Chairman, Magulong Village Development Authority said that for the construction of the road, an amount of Rs 3 crores was sanctioned under the RSVY, Rs 4.5 crores under PMGSY and another Rs 3 crores under SPA.
But despite the investment of around Rs 10 crores for its construction, there has been no progress in the construction process so far.
He further went on to say that the work under the SPA is being taken up jointly by one contractor, DP Panmei and Diwang, AE, DRDA, the work under RSVY by late ex-Minister Zed Mangaibau and Jamhenglung.
The amount sanctioned under the SPA and RSVY has been withdrawn and misused by the respective contractors without any works been carried out.
The road connecting Katang and Magulong Village which was never constructed by the concerned contractors after withdrawing around Rs 6 crores under SPA and RSVY.
The construction has now been taken over by two contractors, Ajuan Gonmei and Jugindro under PMGSY for which an amount of Rs 4.5 crores has been sanctioned, he said.
The work for the road construction, though started in December last year, has again come to a halt after a stretch of only 1 km out of the total length of 11 kms.
As such the people of the two villages are facing a huge lot of problems in coming down to Imphal or Tamenglong.
Considering the problems faced by the people, the government should complete the construction on the earliest possible time.
The people of the village will file an RTI to check the actual amount drawn out by the respective contractors, he added.
The media team also witnessed the poorly constructed Bailey Suspension Bridge over the Barak River.
The Equal Block, where all the weight of the bridge will be laden was not constructed with the required amount of cement and iron.
The poor quality is clearly evident.
Speaking to reporters, D Stephen, Chairman, ZSU said that the bridge was built by PWD (NEC Division II in 2008, the same time when the Serou Bridge was built.
The Equal Block which is to carry all the weight of the bridge was poorly constructed, thereby putting the life of the people at risk.
The concern SO and the Engineers were timely informed about the poor quality maintenance of the bridge, but they denied all allegations saying that there is no technical failure in the construction.
They even furnished the required certificates in the regard and a sum of Rs 24 lakhs was withdrawn.
But now the Equal Block is being dismantled again citing lack of quality in its construction, as ordered by the concerned department.
The ZSU has demanded that the concern SO and Engineers who had submitted the fitness report denying all allegations against technical failure in the construction should be terminated from their jobs.
The Union also charged the state government for not developing the hills and the plains equally.
It has also made it clear that if the government does not look into the matter misappropriation of funds by certain contractors, the Naga organizations will take up stern action.
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