Take necessary action against work agencies/contractors, recover sanctioned funds: PDCC
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 19 2018: Peace and Development Coordination Committee (PDCC) has urged the State Government to look into the misappropriation of fund, meant for repairing one of the crucial road and bridge of Khundrakpam AC and Saikul AC, while claiming that the authority concerned has failed to deliver a concrete result of the work till date.

Members of PDCC along with a team of media persons conducted an inspection drive along Imphal-Saikul stretch and at Yumnam Patlou today.

PDCC general secretary Thoudam Hemjit, while speaking to media persons, stated that one of the important road stretch i.e the Imphal-Saikul road has remained in a dilapidated condition for the past 30 years.

The pathetic road has caused numerous inconveniences and mishaps to the people, he added.

Earlier, PDCC approached the Department concerned, under the new Govt, to take up repairing work along the said road and found out that a work order, for renovation of Imphal to Saikul road, was issued on April 14, 2016 to two agencies/contractor namely L Tarpon Singh and L Singh & Co, Th Hemjit alleged.

After two years without any improvement of the said road, the committee then pressed the Chief Minister, Minister concerned and the Chief Engineer concerned as well as the work agencies/contractors concerned but in vain, he asserted.

Condemning the inaction of the Govt as well as the agencies concerned, the committee even launched different forms of agitation including, sit-in protest, strikes etc, last year.

Before, PDCC (along with different organisations) and the Department concerned signed an MoU which led to commencement of the repairing work.

The work literally started but failed to fulfil its quality which has now resulted in innumerable potholes along the road, he asserted.

Meanwhile, another work order issued earlier had advised the repairment of a bridge connecting Imphal and Saikul at Yumnam Patlou.

After the negligence of the authority concerned to revamp the bridge, PDCC found out, from the Department concerned, that all the fund meant for the repairment of the said bridge had already withdrawn.

The 4 km (approx) long Imphal-Saikul road stretch has brought nothing but deaths and mishaps to the locals as well as the passers-by, Th Hemjit added.

PDCC general secretary alleged that work agency/contractor assigned for the work, L Tarpon Singh has already withdrawn Rs one crore out of Rs 2,78,76,128 crore while M/s L Singh & Co has withdrawn Rs 2,67,000 out of the total Rs 2,91,17,605 .

Seeking immediate attention of the State Government, PDCC has urged the authorities concerned to look into the misuse of funds meant for repairing of Saikul-Imphal road and demanded to take necessary action against the work agencies/ contractors concerned at the earliest.

The committee also urged the State Govt to include the culprits under black list and recover the withdrawn funds at the earliest.

PDCC general secretary further added that the committee along with the locals have banned the two work agencies/ contractors from working in the area.

Later in the day, PDCC submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister, Works Minister and Vigilance and Anti Corruption Department regarding the negligence in taking up developmental works between the two ACs.

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