Tura smart town project has taken a hit: BJP

TURA, April 12: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has lamented that the Tura smart town project has suffered a lot due to the involvement of non-local contractors, architects and designers.
Questioning the implementation of the smart town project, BJP MDC from Tura, Bernard Marak, said that barely 50 per cent of the work has been completed.
“Smart town projects should not end up becoming a dumb town project due to ignorance and irresponsibility. It’s observed that hardly 50% work is done and involvement of the non-local contractors, architects and designers have manipulated the actual plan of the town,” felt Bernard.
Citing an example, the MDC pointed to a design at the base of streetlights in Chandmari, Araimile and Ringre, which are supposed to resemble the Garo ‘Dama’ being shaped like ‘kuls’.
“The architect has made a wrong design and it’s a glaring mistake which will remain an eyesore. They didn’t even make effort to correct the misconception of the designers. It would have been best if the work were given to local people instead of hiring foreign contractors and designers who have no knowledge of the Garos. These errors will do permanent damage to the town,” he added.
He suggested that that project can be been better implemented if handed over to local development committees instead of the contractors.
“Contractors will do mere 50% compared to committees who would have done 100% work from the amount sanctioned to their localities,” he felt.
Informing that the BJP is closely monitoring the implementation of the smart town project, he said that RTIs have been filed by them.
“Drum design error is just one of those many mistakes the designers have committed. Public money should not go wasted and contractors should be made accountable to the works done through public money,” said Bernard.