Cong questions govt’s choice of contractors

SHILLONG, March 16: Congress MLA from Mawsynram, HM Shangpliang, on Tuesday asked the state government why it engaged two public sector undertakings (PSUs) from outside in the construction of 40 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) in the state.
Shangpliang raised the question after Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui had told the Assembly that the Engineering Cell of the state’s Education department, Water and Power Consultancy Services Ltd (WAPCOS) and Manipur Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (MIDC) were selected to execute the work of 2, 13 and 25 EMRS, respectively.
Raising the issue during Question Hour, the Congress MLA lamented that the government managed to get the projects sanctioned but the local contractors were not engaged.  “I feel by giving 13 projects to WAPCOS and 25 others to Manipur Industrial Development Corporation Ltd, the government deprived local contractors,” Shangpliang said, pointing out that the COVID-19 pandemic has hit everyone hard.
Rymbui replied that the projects were sanctioned by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and it is for the National Education Society for Tribal Students to implement them.
He said the expression of interest was called for and the Education and Planning departments had written to the MeECL and others. However, as it was in the midst of the pandemic and the COVID monitoring system was stringent, the state PSUs could not participate.
He said Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had written to the Ministry to consider the local PSUs and government agencies for the projects but has not received a reply yet.
On whether the state government is also contemplating a full-fledged engineering wing in the Education department, Rymbui replied that it has always been a plan but he will not be able to say anything about it now.