By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Nartiang MLA ECB Bamon on Tuesday demanded an inquiry into the delay in the construction of the Iawmusiang Supermarket in the heart of Jowai town.
The MLA had framed a question on the status of the project to be taken up on the first day of the Assembly winter session on Tuesday. However, it could not be taken up during the Question Hour for paucity of time.
Later, speaking to media persons, Bamon expressed surprise over the reply given by the Minister in charge of District Council Affairs, HDR Lyngdoh, who said that the earthwork excavation for the foundation has been completed and work for the sub-structure is in progress.
“The answer is misleading as only the existing structure has been dismantled and nothing has been done further,” he said.
The legislator also said that the Iawmusiang Supermarket project has come to a total halt and the market site has become a dumping ground.
The MLA also alleged that the Deputy CEM of JHADC who is also in charge of Finance has withdrawn an amount of Rs 1.98 crore from the project fund for reasons best known to him only.
It may be noted that the Union Ministry of DoNER had sanctioned Rs 20.09 crore including 7 per cent agency charge for the Iawmusiang Supermarket project. The first installment of Rs 6.33 crore was released in July 2009 for the project to take off.
The National Building Construction Company (NBCC), which was to execute the project, resisted the launch of the project despite the signing of the MoU, following which the JHADC handed over the project to the State Public Works Department in August 2009. The department, however, delayed the construction work due to a variation in the rate schedule prepared and approved in the original Detail Project Report (DPR).