Delay in construction of modern abattoir at Jowai
SHILLONG: The Public Accounts Committee of the Assembly will meet on January 6 to discuss the failure on the part of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department to initiate action Chennai-based consortium and its local partner Rishan Rapsang for failing to start the construction of Rs 7.65-crore mechanized bye-species modern abattoir at Jowai.
The committee on December 5 last through the Assembly Secretary H Mylliemngap had directed the department to take immediate steps to realize the unspent money of the mobilization fund amounting to Rs 1.81 crore which was released to the firm for construction of the abattoir.
In the letter addressed to Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department director Dr JS Jyrwa, the Assembly Secretary had asked the department to take immediate steps to realize the unutilized fund which is lying with the consortium for the past two and a half years.
Sources on Saturday informed that the committee will discuss the failure of the department to initiate against the firm.
“The committee is likely to take stringent action against the officials of the department for failing to comply with the directive of the department,” sources added.
The move comes after the PAC conducted a site inspection on November 11 and unearthed several anomalies as far as execution of the Rs 7.65-crore project is concerned.
The Committee, comprising chairman Hoping Stone Lyngdoh and members – Paul Lyngdoh (UDP), RV Lyngdoh and PN Syiem (both Congress) – was surprised to see that the project was yet to take off even after the work was allotted to the firm in September, 2012.
According to sources, the project was supposed to be completed within 12 months after the work was allotted.
Sources informed that the firm had deposited an amount of Rs 2 lakh as security deposit in the bank. The Government released a total amount of Rs 1.81 crore as mobility amount.
“The amount released by the Government to the firm is around 30 percent of the total cost of the project which is highly questionable,” sources said.
In the meantime, the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department has summoned both Chennai-based consortium and its local partner Rishan Rapsang seeking a clarification for the delay.