Sub-contractors threaten to shut Water Supply schemes in Heingang
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 23 2014 :
Heingang Kendra PHED Sub-Contractors Association on Friday threatened to shut down six Water Supply schemes in Heingang Constituency over non-clearance of bills by the State Government.
Payments to sub-contractors for construction of the six Water Supply schemes, which were completed in 2011, have been delayed by the Government for years, therefore the PHED sub-contractors' body has decided to close them down, association secretary H Shyamnanda told reporters.
Members of the association were inspecting the Water Supply scheme sites along with a media team today.
On the sidelines, Shyamnanda said the schemes have been supplying drinking water to the public for about three years now.
But the Government has failed to clear the bill till date.
The six Water Supply schemes at Nilakuthi, Heingang Makha, Mongjam/Maibakhul, Kontha Ahanlup and Lairikyengbam Leikai were constructed by Heingang PHED Sub-Contractors Association within two years from 2010 to 2011 .
PHED minister I Hemochandra has been requested for the payments time and again, but he has chosen to remain silent, Shyamnanda alleged and informed that each sub-contractor has to get payments of Rs 20-30 lakh from the Government.
The Government of India released Rs 3 crore under the Central sponsored Rural Water Supply Programme (ARP) for Imphal East Division, PHED just before the Lok Sabha polls 2014, he mentioned, adding that due bills should have been cleared from the amount meant for the Imphal East Division, PHED.
Instead, the minister secretly withdrew Rs 65 lakh from the amount and recently started a new Water Supply scheme at Ashei Toklen Terapokpi Chingkhong in Imphal East where water source is very scarce, he said.
He said that minister Hemochandra owns a farm in the area where the new Water Supply scheme is being developed.