Dimapur District Congress Committee officials addressing a
press conference on Friday in Dimapur.
- DIMAPUR — The
Dimapur District Congress Committee (DCC) on Friday claimed that the recent
renovation and modernisation of Town Hall at Naga Shopping Arcade in Dimapur
has raised many eyebrows “due to high budget allotment from the state government”.
- Addressing a press conference at the Congress Bhavan in
Dimapur, DCC general secretary (media) Andrew Humtsoe disclosed that the DCC
had filed an RTI application relating to the project on February 19. The
response came via mail on March 12.
- “Through the RTI, we came to know that the work allotment
was given to M/s Chabou & Co. On receiving the RTI, we went to investigate
the town hall on March 17. After looking at the work, we can say they have done
a commendable job, but the problem arises when the work that has been
beautifully executed does not match the budget allotted,” he said.
- He also alleged that although the hall has been inaugurated,
there are still some works to be done as per the engineer, and the hall remains
closed to the public.
- DCC President Kutoho Chishi, while stating that the work was
in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) mode, questioned, “We want
to question the DAN when the tender was advertised in the newspapers because
the EPC mode project has to be open.” And though the contractor may have done
quality work, this was not a newly constructed work but a renovation project,
he said.
- He also questioned the amount spent on the three-sided
boundary wall of the town hall, which was INR 1,34,69,679.89 as per the RTI.
- According to him, the video and audio installations alone
cost INR 2 crore each.
- Also, earlier there were about 500 to 600 chairs in the
auditorium, but now it has been reduced to around 300 chairs, with the cost of
the chairs amounting to INR 53,83,383.38.
- “Compare the other states’ town hall auditoriums and ours,
which was only renovated by spending lakhs and crores. Stage lighting costs INR
1,09,03,787.16. Isn’t this affecting our democracy? Public should not give a
free hand to the government,” he asserted.
