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The abandoned bridge viewed from southern downstream side of the river on September 11, 2017.[/caption]
Dimapur, Nov. 13 (EMN): Different Lotha organisations led by the Lotha Hoho (LH) has filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the Executive Engineer (R&B), Dimapur Division, and M/S L Pukhato Shohe & Sons, which was allocated construction of Doyang Bridge at Liphanayan in Ralan sub-division, Wokha district, under Nagaland Foot Hills Road (NFHR).
A joint press release issued by Lotha Hoho president, Mhao Humtsoe, and general secretary, Er. Mhondamo Ovung, stated that the contractor was issued work order by the Chief Engineer, PWD (R&B), Nagaland vide No. CE(R&B)/ TENDER/ FH-BRIDGE/ 2013-14 Dated Kohima the 15.3.2014 and revised work order was issued dated 21.11.2014 for construction of the RCC Bridge over Doyang river at Liphanyan. The work order amount was INR 24,52,20,000. The target date of commissioning of the said bridge was October 15, 2016.
To ascertain progress of the work, Lotha organisations carried out physical inspection of the bridge on September 11 and found that the work done was approximately 25% to 30% only. The organisations observed that the work done was two pillars with slab from the abutment and yet to reach the river waterway.
It claimed that although the target date of completion and commissioning of the bridge has lapsed by one full year, the concerned Executive Engineer, instead of ensuring to complete the work, had made payments to the contractor to the tune of INR 18,49,73,074.00, which amounts to fraudulent payment of bill to the tune of 50% without work.
The Lotha organisations had obtained detailed information on the matter from the office of the concerned Executive Engineer through RTI, in which the concerned Executive Engineer had falsely stated that 75% of the work had been completed, which actually was the amount of bill fraudulently paid by him.
The Lotha organisations have filed the FIR on October 23, 2017, at the Police Station, Wokha, and the Superintendent of Police, Wokha, had forwarded the case to the DGP Nagaland for necessary action by the SIT.
It mentioned that the matter was brought up by the Lotha Hoho during the Colloquium on Road Connectivity convened by the State government on the October 10 at the State Banquet Hall, Kohima. The organisations have quoted the Chief Engineer (R&B) who clarified as saying that the work was abandoned. It, therefore, questioned “why abandoned after making payment without commensurate work?”
While stating that action on the FIR was awaited, it urged the ACAUT and NPRAAF to take note for necessary support to the Lotha organisations. It added that Nagaland cannot go on in such malpractice indefinitely adding Nagas need to take the required deterrent action.