Politicians, contractors threaten PWD staff with Garo hills transfer
SHILLONG: The alleged corruption in the construction of the Sutnga-Sumer road, the Sutnga Bypass and Sutnga internal roads by officers of the PWD (NEC), Khliehriat, has become more evident with some officers of the PWD (NEC) recently meeting the headman of Sutnga allegedly on behalf of some politicians and contractors and telling him not to pursue the matter.
In a statement issued to the media on Monday, S.D. Lyngdoh, headman of Sutnga, revealed that PWD officers had met him on October 23 and raised the matter.
According to the headman, the PWD officers informed him that they had been forced by the contractors and politicians to come to his house to plead with him (headman) not to pursue the matter or move the court seeking a CBI inquiry into the road construction scam.
The headman claimed that the PWD officers had been threatened by the politicians and contractors that if they did not meet him with this plea, they will be posted in Garo Hills.
“This clearly shows that there is rampant corruption in road schemes meant for the development of the villages of Sutnga, Sumer and Saipung. It now seems that the Office of the PWD (NEC) has become the private property of a few contractors, officers and politicians,” the headman stated.
Further, the headman said that before inquiring into the schemes through RTI, he had approached the local MLA, Hopeful Bamon, who stated that he was not aware of the schemes.
“This is strange since as an MLA and local representative, he should have been aware about such developmental issues in his constituency,” the headman added.
The headman demanded punishment to those responsible for misuse of public funds. He also added that he had full faith in the law and will continue to follow up on such corruption cases in his locality.
The headman also extended his gratitude to Dorbar Shnong Sutnga, residents of Sutnga and the CSWO, who encouraged him to fight for the cause of the people.
