A’chik forum upset over ‘outsiders’ taking government project pie

SHILLONG: The A’chik Indigenous Justice Initiative Forum has alleged that indigenous contractors in Garo Hills have been left with little or no projects in public sector infrastructure.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Forum said works allotted to them have been gradually decreasing and this can be accounted to projects being allotted to outsiders. “Though the quality of work done by some of the outside contractor continues to be poor, there has been no measure to check the allotment of work to the same outsider company. Some of the shoddy works done by one outsider construction company, RR Constructions, owned by M.P Agarwala of Guwahati, is a case in point,” the Forum said. According to the Forum, a stretch of 18 km on AMPT road from Abirampara (Tikrikilla) to Gaptoli reserve is in dilapidated condition within 2-3 months of its construction.
Though several oragnisations and locals protested against these shoddy works, no action seems to have been taken by the concerned department, the Forum said.
The company is constructing Phulbari Ginning Mill on Maulakandi Road, which is designed and being constructed on faulty lines. It is vulnerable and remains submerged for around 5-6 months in a year. The height of the road and the box shell culverts on that road is not adequate to function during rain. “The situation would worsen to a level that one would need to sail on a boat through that road since driving would not be possible. It is bewildering that though that stretch is a highly flood-prone area the height of the road is not raised,” the Forum added. It pointed out that the company is also constructing a school building in Tikrikilla and Williampur funded by ADB and the quality is being compromised again. The Forum said it is worrisome that the company despite being continuously carrying out poor work is getting even minor contracts.