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 building plan for the ongoing construction of the Model Degree College in the area, while calling on concerned officials and representatives to look into the matter.
Spotting a series of anomalies in the construction of the college, the combined groups have sought government intervention by writing separate letters to the Education Minister, former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee in Shillong.
As per the RTI report, the groups pointed out that 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 building.
However as noted by the pressure groups, the building project which was supposed to have three floors in total seems to have ceased progress altogether with no signs of construction from second floor onwards.
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. Further, an inspection of the construction site by the unions recently revealed cracks and fissures in the building through which water seeped in.
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 organisations urged all concerned to personally look into the matter and take the contractor concerned to task.