TURA: A Contractor undertaking the construction of a local road in Rajasimla of North Garo Hills District has come under fire of local residents for allegedly diverting the original project and leaving out certain portions depriving a section of the beneficiaries who had already donated land for the sake of development.
The people of Rajasimla Rongdal Atimbo under Kharkutta C&RD Block in North Garo Hills recently submitted a complaint to the district Deputy Commissioner where they alleged that the whopping Rs 5,49,81,237/- road construction project under PMGSY from Rajasimla Songma to Rangsa via Rongdal Atimbo was diverted to Rajasimla Songma to Rajasimla Babupara which is a distance of a mere 200 metres.
Due to the diversion, the people alleged that many have been deprived of the benefits of the project although they had allowed the destruction of electric poles, PHE pipelines, bettlenut plantations, paddy fields, fishery ponds, rubber plantations and others amounting to crores of rupees, all for nothing.
The diversion of the project which was brought to light through an RTI has angered the people who feel that they have been cheated resulting in immense loss to them in terms of property.
“As per the original tender the project which included culverts and bridges was from Rajasimla Songma to Rangsa via Rongdal Atimbo. However, the RTI report showed that the project is from Rajasimla Songma to Rajasimla Babupara and there is no mention of Rangsa. Besides, the project amount remains the same at Rs 5,49,81,237/- when the distance of the project mentioned is merely 200 metres,” the people claimed.
The people have urged the Deputy Commissioner to look into the matter before the situation gets out of hand.
