Site inspection reveals neglect by nodal agency, sub contractors
NONGPOH: In a sorry state of affairs a vast number of constructions under the Centrally-sponsored schemes in Ri Bhoi District have either remained incomplete or waiting to be executed due to the lethargic attitude of the authorities concerned thereby resulting in colossal waste of public funds.
The matter came to light during a sudden spot inspection conducted by Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Pooja Pandey accompanied by Nongpoh Town Committee Chairman C B Syiem and Secretary T Nongkhlaw, member Opel Lyngdoh and Plielad Tiewsoh of the site for construction of houses meant for the urban poor at Umbuda and a Solid Waste Management project at Umshaling.
The Urban Affairs is the nodal agency for construction of 240 units meant for the urban poor. The department assigned the construction work to Hindustan Prefab Limited who sub contracted it to one Laborlang Lyngdoh. The project, amounting to Rs. 7.80 crore, was sanctioned in 2007-08. Construction started in 2010 and was supposed to be completed within March, 2012.
The sub-contractor constructed only around 70 units while another 170 has been kept pending. As the site has remained abandoned for a long time now, thieves are making a fortune by stealing construction materials left behind at the site which has also become a safe haven for anti-social elements.
The inspecting team then went to the site of the Solid Waste Management project where they found that the retaining walls have already been damaged due to faulty construction by the contractor, one Mr. Marbaniang. He was assigned the work by the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority which is the nodal agency for the project.
The construction work, estimated at Rs. 6 crore, started in 2008-09 and was scheduled for completion by 2012. Due to the inordinate delay in the construction work, the Nongpoh Town Committee has been incurring weekly expenditure of Rs. 10,000 for dumping of garbage in the temporary dumping ground.
Speaking to The Shillong Times after the inspection, the chairman of the Nongpoh Town Committee expressed concern over the delay in the two projects, besides also lamenting the delay in completion of the Urban Affairs Shopping Complex in Nongpoh and the four-lane project which are running behind schedule.
He urged the local elected public representatives and the district administration to take initiative to speed up the work for the greater benefit of the public.