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The new office building of the directorate of Economics and Statistics, on July 23 in Kohima.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, July 23 (EMN): A new building for the directorate of Economics & Statistics has been inaugurated. The building, built at a total cost of INR 8,28,80,900, was inaugurated on July 23 by advisor for Economics & Statistics, and Evaluation L Khumo, in Kohima.
L Khumo unveiled the plague of the new building. In his address at the event, he lauded the contractor for what he called quality work. The advisor urged the staffs to imbibe the principles of respect and honour, and to maintain discipline in whichever profession they serve. He said that unless change comes from the individual, ‘we won’t be able to bring change in the society. ‘
Kelei Zeliang, commissioner-secretary of the department, spoke at the event too. He said that the construction work started in 2010 and took nine years to complete. With the new building having been completed, he said to be expecting employees to give even better performance, and that they would work harder with dedication to their duties for the improvement of the department and benefit of the state.
Speaking on the importance of the roles and functions of the department, he said the department, when assessed, becomes the “most important” dept. as other departments rely on its reports. Therefore, its personnel should feel proud to be in the department and be motivated to work harder, he said.
Unlike other departments, he said, the Economics & Statistics does not need that much of funds due to the nature of its work. Yet, that shouldn’t hamper them from working with dedication, he remarked.
The chief engineer of the Public Works department (housing) L Senti said that the construction of the new office building was completed at a total cost of INR 8,28,80,900.
The completed building is now of a G+3 configuration with plinth area of 31,430 sq. ft. having 37 rooms, two conference halls, 15 toilets and a ramp for differently able people.
With the inauguration and commissioning of the building, he hopes that the other components of the project including site and service works will also be completed at an early date.
It was initially started with an estimated cost of INR 4,94,27,000 for three floors (G+2). However, the work could not be taken upon full pace as there was no existing approach road to the site. This hampered the progress of the work to a very large extent, he said.
In 2016, on the request of the contractor and the user department besides the increase of rate of materials and labour charges in the subsequent years, a revised estimate was prepared and approved for an amount of INR 6,78,80,900 with a cost deviation of INR 1,84,53,900 from the original project cost.
Yet again, due to the necessity of a conference hall and some more rooms for the office, a proposal for an additional floor was made, which was approved. The work order for the third floor was also given for an estimated amount of INR 1,50,00,000, he added.
The project took a long time to come to this stage due to “irregular funding from the government and also some amount of funds which was sanctioned for the building construction had to be diverted for the construction of an approach road, a retaining wall and culverts. These were necessary for the progress and completion of the office building,” Senti said.
The building was constructed by M/S Neikho-o Mere & Co. Earlier, Kuzierang Thou, state chaplain said the dedicatory prayer at the event.
