Tura, Feb 16: Local groups from Rongjeng in East Garo Hills including the GSU, FKJGP, ASWA and AAYF on Wednesday alleged deviation from the approved drawings and specifications in the ongoing construction of the Model Degree College in the area while calling on concerned officials and representatives to look into the matter.
The combined groups has dispatched separate letters to the Education Minister, former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee in Shillong seeking their intervention to rectify the anomaly.
The groups said that as per the RTI report, the detailed breakup project cost was Rs 6,98,56,851 for Academic and Administrative Building, Rs 2,95,19,458 for Boys Hostel Building and Rs 2,06,34,025 for Girls hostel. The union added that the project which was supposed to have three floors was missing the second floor with no signs of any further construction being seen. The union also said that an amount of Rs 8,97,63,567 has already been released to the contractor which accounts for 70 percent of the total project cost.
According to the pressure groups, an inspection of the construction site recently revealed cracks and fissures developing in the building through which water has seeped in. It added that due to improper proportioning of the concrete, the slab of the building can be dug out with bare hands.
They also questioned the thickness of the plywood doors in both the Boys and Girls hostels as well as the finished coat of the paint job on the building walls.
Stating that the irregularities in the construction of such a huge project which could benefit the students community of the area was unacceptable, the organizations urged all concerned to personally look into the matter and take the contractor concerned to task.