Contractors' Forum warns to halt all construction works if PMGSY funds not released
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 28 2020:
All Manipur Contractors' Forum has warned to halt any ongoing construction of roads or bridges from February 5, if the State Government and the authorities concerned fail to release the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) funds at the earliest.
Making the above statement while speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club today, convenor of the forum Kh Samarendra mentioned that the State Government has not released the funds for PMGSY related works, since October 2019 till date.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Rural Development released a total fund of Rs 286.85 crore for PMGSY works in December last year, in which Rs 199 crore and Rs 64.85 crore were sanctioned separately on December 10 and December 20 respectively, he continued.
He noted that the State Government should deposit the fund to the bank account of Manipur State Rural Roads Development Agency (MSRRDA) within three days of receiving the fund from the Ministry.
The fund would then be utilised by MSRRDA in PMGSY related works.
Now, the State Government has put the fund on hold, which is unfortunate, he asserted.
The convenor continued that the contractors have been taking up construction works regarding PMGSY, which is a Prime Minister's flagship programme, since 2000 .
As per the National Rural Roads Development Agency (NRRDA) guidelines, all the construction works should maintain quality with transparency and within the stipulated time period, he noted while adding that SQM of MSRRDA and National Quality Monitors inspects the works, under NRRDA.
Halting the release of the funds concerned has caused numerous inconvenience to the contractors apart from hampering the works.
He then urged the State Government and the authorities concerned to release the funds at the earliest while asserting that the forum will be compelled to halt all ongoing construction works from February 5 .