"Nagaland cannot go on in such malpractice indefinitely and Nagas need to take the required deterrent action"
Dimapur, Oct. 16 (EMN): The Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) on Tuesday has come out strongly with regard to the construction of the RCC Bridge over Doyang river at Liphanyan, Ralan Sub-Division of Wokha district under Nagaland Foot Hill Road (NFHR).
A press release from the ACAUT media cell stated that Lotha Hoho along with ACAUT Unit Wokha carried out a physical inspection of the bridge construction and found out that only 25-30 percent of the work was complete although the target date of completion and commissioning of the bridge was over by one full year.
It also stated that an RTI has revealed that the concerned executive engineer, “instead of ensuring to complete the work; had made payments to the contractor to the tune of INR.18, 49, 73,074 (75% of work order amount), which amounts to fraudulent payment of bill to the tune of 50%, without work,” as per the RTI the executive Engineer had falsely claimed that 75% of the work has been completed”.
“Based on these grounds the Lotha HoHo had filed FIR on October 23,2017 at Wokha Police Station against the Executive Engineer (R&B), Dimapur Division alleging that the Executive Engineer had made “fraudulent payments” and M/S L Pukhato Shohe & Sons, CL-1//52-NPW, before completion of the works” the release stated.
The release also stated that the Lotha Hoho has informed that the contractor was issued the work order by the Chief Engineer, PWD (RB), Nagaland on March 15, 2014 and a revised work order was issued on November 21, 2014 for construction of the RCC Bridge which amounted to INR 24, 52, 20,000.
Saying that the target date of commissioning of the said bridge was scheduled for Oct. 15, 2016, the Acaut said that the the Lotha Hoho also brought up this matter during the ‘Colloquium on Road Connectivity,’ convened by the Nagaland government on October 10, during which, the Acaut stated, the chief engineer of PWD (roads and bridges) had revealed that the work was abandoned.
The Acaut Nagaland applauded the Lotha Hoho in exposing corruption and hoped that more organisations emulate the exemplary courage shown by the hoho in fighting corruption and fighting for the welfare of the general population.
Terming it as a very serious matter of public importance and a crime against the public, Acaut stated that it is just unacceptable that a road connectivity of such socio-economic importance upon which the whole of Eastern Naga area and passing through six districts of Nagaland which would have been a huge sigh of relief for people who face constant harassment and fear travelling via Assam.
“This is a crime of magnitude proportion perpetuated against the people of Nagaland and ACAUT Nagaland is in total agreement with Lotha HoHo that “Nagaland cannot go on in such malpractice indefinitely and Nagas need to take the required deterrent action”, the Acaut demanded.
“The PWD(R&B) Nagaland should make its Departments stand clear on this matter and clarify to the people of Nagaland, the Chief Engineers Statement that “work was abandoned” during “Colloquium on Road Connectivity” when payment for the work has already been made,” the Acaut demanded.
It also demanded government of Nagaland to immediately suspend the “executive engineer (R&B) in question” and black list “M/s LPukhato Shohe & Sons firm for the sanctity of an impartial”
Furthermore, the Acaut Nagaland demanded that the SIT should complete its report and befitting action should be initiated by the government within one month failing which ACAUT Nagaland along with all aggrieved stakeholders will initiate a sustained plan of action.
