SHILLONG, March 13: The contractor tasked with redevelopment of the Iawmusiang traditional market in Jaintia Hills has approached the High Court of Meghalaya to seek legal redressal of the alleged illegal rescinding of work order.
Aggrieved about the cancellation of work order at his back, the contractor of this project, GM Lanong, on Sunday told The Shillong Times that he has approached the High Court questioning the legality of the cancellation order and floating of a fresh notice inviting tender (NIT) for balance works.
He claimed that the department has cancelled his work order & forfeited 8% of the security deposits while some payments are still due to him.
According to him, the PWD (Buildings) issued the cancellation order without even issuing a show cause notice against the proposed cancellation. Lanong observed that the law requires issuance notice of show cause against proposed action before any action is taken, which, according to the contractor, is the most fundamental right available to any person.
The Meghalaya High Court, on March 9, while hearing this matter had issued notice to the PWD (Buildings). The matter has again been listed for hearing on April 1.
It may be mentioned that on the date of issuance of notice to the PWD, the NIT in respect of the balance work order is yet to be finalised.
The government had cancelled the previous contract of re-development of one of the largest and oldest traditional markets in Jaintia Hills apparently after the contractor’s dilly-dallying that led to a delay in execution of the work.
According to Jowai MLA, Wailadmiki Shylla, the contractor had initially apprised them about some pending dues, but after those were cleared, he started construction work for a few months for only a short period. “We sent him reminders. Even after two-three reminders, he did not respond, so we have cancelled the contract and recalled the tender,” the NPP MLA had informed
The project is sponsored by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) worth nearly Rs 19 crore.
The proposal for re-development of the market in Jowai was accorded administrative approval in July 2006 and an amount of Rs 20.09 crore was sanctioned by the DoNER Ministry, of which the first installment — amounting to Rs 6.33 crore — was released on February 10, 2009.