Flustered MLA attempts counterattack with ‘engineer without degree’ jibe

NONGPOH, June 20: Embarrassed over The Shillong Times report highlighting the poor quality of construction of the yet-to-be inaugurated Patharkhmah Model Degree College, Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun on Monday said no one should act as engineer without having a degree.
The MLA on Monday inspected the college building with engineers from the Education department overseeing the project and media persons in tow.
The building was constructed at a cost of Rs 11.01 crore. The foundation stone was virtually laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 3, 2019 via video conferencing from the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre, Srinagar.
Speaking to media persons after the inspection, Sohtun said he was saddened over the new report which has been published without consulting and seeking clarifications from the concerned engineers and the contractor.
Although silent on the visible cracks and the missing lift in the building, the NPP MLA took the opportunity to ask people to be ‘thankful and grateful’ to the MDA government for allotting the project, which is one of its kind in the district. “We should be thankful and grateful to the government, the chief minister, the education minister and the department who have worked tirelessly to complete this project,” Sohtun said.
The MLA said Monday’s inspection was conducted in the presence of the concerned engineers since he did not want ‘anyone to act as an engineer without a degree’.
Curiously, Sohtun was all praise for the contractor despite the sorry state of affairs of the building. “In spite of the pandemic, the contractor has done an excellent job to complete this project at a quick pace,” he said.
Senior Consultant (civil work) of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan B Tariang clarified that the cracks on the building had appeared on the expansion joints but the building was strong and safe enough.
He said that since it was a huge building it was divided into three parts to avoid any damage to the whole structure. “The cracks have appeared only on the joints of the three buildings which have been plastered with cement,” he said.
Tariang stated that any plaster which measure more than 3 or 4 inches will inevitably have to crack. “It should not have been plastered at all but instead it should be cover with plates. The cracks which have appeared will be repaired by the contractor and the building will be repainted before the inauguration,” Tariang said.