SHILLONG, March 14: Opposition All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) has warned the state government that people are contemplating on approaching the court over the alleged use of substandard pipes in the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
Raising a call attention motion on a report published in The Shillong Times, Opposition Chief Whip, George B Lyngdoh said a magisterial inquiry was conducted on the report that substandard pipes are being used in the implementation of JJM in Ri-Bhoi district.
Alleging that substandard pipes are still in circulation and some have been already used, he said the use of such pipes not only compromises the quality of the project but also its lifespan.
The MLA alleged the supplier is being paid at higher cost than the rate approved despite supplying poor quality pipes and the officers objecting to it.
He alleged that in order to meet the additional cost of these pipes, the department is deducting from labour charge of contractors although the schedule of PHE is clear that there is cost of material and cost of labour.
The contractors are being paid only a certain amount of labour charge which is below the approved and agreed schedule of rates and that amount, deducted from labour charge, is being given for material cost which is being paid for substandard pipes.
Lyngdoh termed it as illegal. He cautioned that many contractors are threatening the department with moving the court.
He also said that in the 15 mm pipes, the cost escalation is 11.4% while it is 25% in 25 mm pipes, 26% in 40 mm pipes and 31% in 50 mm pipes. “It will be the responsibility of the Minister if people drag the department to court. We see schemes being implemented are brought to halt and questioned by the Government of India,” Lyngdoh said.
In his reply, the PHE Minister, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar said the department had swung into action based on the media report. He said an inquiry was conducted by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Ri Bhoi.
He said after some pipes used were found to be not of approved specifications, the manufacturer was directed to replace the defective pipes and it was adhered to.
He said the department does not make payment to the supplier without an inspection and issuance of a third party certificate. Giving details of the inquiry, the Minister said the complainant had complained about weight of GI pipes, not other specifications.
He said the manufacturer of the pipes had admitted that the chances of mixing coil is possible due to human error during the manufacture of huge quantity of GI pipes of same diameter and size.
The third party inspection agency conducts inspection at the manufacturing unit and carries out test on 50 samples for each case as offered by the manufacturing firm, the Minister said.
Asserting that no payment is released to the manufacturer if quality issues are noticed in the consignment, he said instructions have been issued that only pipes of approved specifications are to be accepted.
He also said that the department is concerned about the schedule of rates and trying to get the new rate as early as possible.