Dimapur, Oct. 10 (EMN): The Nagaland Government Registered Class- I Contractors’ Union (NGRC- ICU) has asked the chief minister to make use of the services of Quality Control Board constituted by the government to check progress of work and specification of work as per DPR etc., in all major projects ‘so that the contractor's workmanship can be checked thoroughly while executing the work.’
Also, basing on the report and recommendation of the board, the department concerned can take ‘appropriate decisions’, it suggested in a representation addressed to the chief minister. “...in the past mega projects in Nagaland undertaken by the contractors from outside Nagaland had executed the contract works with a view that outside contractors are more competent than the local contractors.
“As such, for up-gradation of Naga Hospital Authority Kohima, contract work was awarded to Sir Edward Dunlop Hospitals Company. Without much elaboration to this work execution, the contract work executed on the ground was only 30%, however, bills released to the company was more than the work executed. In the end the company abandoned the contract work completely by leaving the famous Naga Hospital in a very ugly condition. Thereafter, government requested the PWD department to take up the work for completion but the department declined to do so and till date no work is initiated for its completion.”
It then cited the infamous SARDP project for the upgrade of existing single lane road into two-lane-roads under four different projects: Chakhabama to Zunheboto road, Changtongya to Longleng road, Pfutsero to Phek road and Mon-Tamlu-Merangkong road – awarded to Gayatri and Myatas (N).
“These projects in the end were abandoned by the contractors without completing even a single kilometre out of total length of 318 Km (sic)...as stated earlier, the contractors could not complete even an earth work but the department released the contractor's bill amounting to Rs. 602.34 crore, which shows that there is huge excess payment made to the contractor.”
It warned that the ongoing construction of four lane road between Dimapur and Kohima could also face similar fate if the government and the department concerned do not take the warning seriously.
“Presently, the work as per our observation, only about 50% of earth work may have been completed. The question to be answered is whether these works can be completed within the stipulated period of three years time when the contractors could complete only 50% of earth work and about 5% culverts even after a year of starting the work i.e. November, 2016.
“Will the government allow the road to face the same fate to previous mega projects, the NGRC-1CU feel that government should not repeat the same mistake as before, moreover, Dimapur-Kohima National Highway is the lifeline for rest Nagaland apart from Dimapur.”
It also asked the chief minister ‘to take a physical ride to Kohima town roads and thereafter, direct the department to take up the work wherever it is required for necessary action.’ the Union requested the government to organise seminars for local contractors as well as “award certificates to deserving contractors.”
