Anomalies in road project
SHILLONG: The High Court of Meghalaya on Wednesday issued notices to contractors in connection with alleged scam in the construction of three road projects at Sutgna following three PILs filed by the headman demanding CBI probe into the alleged irregularities.
As per the first PIL filed by headman, SD Lyngdoh , the administrative approval for rehabilitation of damaged pavement of Sutnga internal village road (4km), was allotted to contractor one Shanbor Lamare with a stipulated time of 12 months since 6.11.2013, but in vain. Moreover, strengthening of pavement of Sutnga-Sumer road ( 2 km ) was allotted to allotted to three contractors , Gasper Nongtdu, Emiroy Dkhar, and Silbinus Sukhlain, but there was undue delay in the construction. The total estimated cost of these two projects was Rs 81,26,700
While for the internal village road Rs 36.091 lakh has already been released, the amount released for Sutnga- Sumer road was Rs 22.152 lakh.
According to the PIL, the contractors have left the work of Sutnga-Sumer road , though the reply to RTI shows that the work was in progress.
In another PIL, the headman pointed out that due to the dilapidated Sutga-Sumer-Saipung road (20 km) , the people are facing undue hardships despite the fact that approval for the project was given for Rs 10 crore under Special Plan Assistance. The contractors who were allotted the work include Albinus Simpli, Emiroy Dkhar,Mohan Langstang, Silbinus Sukhlain, Shem Swer, Fullness Nongtdu, Philip Thangliang , Wom Shyrmang,Nidamon Nongtdu and Dring Dkhar.
The headman alleged that sub standard work was carried out by the contractors, but the entre money was illegally released. Ironically, Rs 21.19 crore was sanctioned in the name of “widening including metalling and black topping” of the same road into double lane standard under NLCPR and the work was allotted to three contractors Silbinus Sukhlain, Borin Shadap, and Roskil Pale.
He sought the intervention of the Court for transparent construction of work after cancelling the double allotment made under NLCPR.
The headman alleged in the PIL that the same contractors , Silbinus Sukhlain,Nidamon Nongtdu, Empiroy Dkhar were given many contract works several times.
In the third PIL, the headman highlighted the dilapidated condition of Moopala-Suntga by pass road (3.117 km).
The administrative approval was given for construction including mettalling and black topping of the road with a cost of Rs 3 crore under Special Plan Assistance and the work was allotted to contractors Nidamon Nongtdu and Silbinus Sukhlain. Out of Rs 3 crore, Rs 2.35 crore has been released whereas the contractors have already abandoned the work. The PIL pointed that a reply to RTI filed by the headman revealed that the office of Executive Engineer PWD (roads) NEC division had written to the contractor Nidamon Nongtdu three times ( September 9, 2014, 7.5.2015 and 24.6. 2015), to resume the work but in vain.
In all the PILs, the headman has blamed the officials of the PWD (roads) for the alleged illegal sanction of money without actually carrying out the work.