Inquiry sought into irrigation project construction

TURA: A high level inquiry is being sought into the construction of the Amindagre Minor Irrigation Project (MIP) under Gambegre Block in West Garo Hills after it got damaged right after its completion rendering it useless to farmers of several villages who would have benefited from the project.
The A’chik Youth Council (AYC), an organisation from West Garo Hills has dashed off a letter to Chief Minister Mukul Sangma demanding probe and seeking action against the contractor concerned as well as the officer of the Water Resources Department who oversaw the project.
A report to an RTI filed by the council revealed that the project was sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 2,68,41,600 crores in 2009-10 and would have benefited a total of 118 families who are owners of cultivation lands from villages like Amindagre, Amakgre, Dilnigre and Nengja Bolchugre.
The AYC recently paid a visit to the project site where they were told by residents that the dam has remained non-functional since it was completed due to the major damaged caused on account of improper construction. There is also no drainage system which connects to the paddy fields to supply water for irrigation purposes.
“Despite crores of public money being spent on the project the farmers who are beneficiaries are not being able to use the facility. This is gross negligence by the Water Resources Department as well as the contractor concerned and action should be taken against them,” Maxbirth G Momin, the assistant general secretary of the AYC demanded.
Pointing out that the contractor has made a huge profit while the farmers are left in the lurch the council urged the government to probe the alleged scam at the earliest so that justice can be served the farmers of the region.
Copies of the complaint have also been submitted the local MLA, Chief Secretary, Director of Water Resources Department and the West Garo Hills DC.