Khemchand rejects PMGSY scam slur
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 23 2022:
Refuting the allegation of Rs 300 crore scam in execution of PMGSY road project in Churachandpur, Tamenglong and Chandel districts as levelled by Congress party, RD&PR minister Y Khemchand has categorically stated that the charges are totally baseless and the claims made by the opposition party are factually incorrect.
Addressing a press meet at his secretariat office here on Friday, Khemchand termed the allegation as malicious and opined that it would be better if the opposition party extends support in ensuring quality control of the works.
The government sanctioned Rs 673 crore for PMGSY road project in Churachandpur district and the progress of the works executed matches with the amount withdrawn so far.
The Congress party is partially right in pointing out some mismatch with regard to the project in Tamenglong district.
Though there were instances of withdrawing excess amount for a couple of Work orders in Tamenglong district, the department had made the work agencies to execute the works for which they had already withdrawn the fund.
The department refrained from initiating actions against the contractors only because such punitive measures could hinder progress of the flagship programme, he reasoned.
In Chandel district, there is no issue as all the works sanctioned in the district are being executed properly except for lack of quality control in some locations.
Stating that he personally visited the work sites and directed the contractors concerned to make necessary re-work to ensure quality fulfilment, Khemchand said ever since he took charge as the minister of RD&PR, he had put into place a mechanism for releasing bills only after submitting geo-tagged photos of the completed works.
As for Churachandpur district, the total length of road sanctioned under PMGSY is 1089.37 km and not 411.75 km as claimed by Congress MLA K Meghachandra.
So far, work has been completed for 356.7 km and for the remaining 727.87 km it is in process, he said, while terming the allegation levelled by the MPCC president without verifying the facts as unfortunate and an attempt to tarnish the image and credibility of the department.
Apart from inspection by engineers, the state quality monitoring cell has also been assessing the completed works regularly.
Moreover, officials of national quality monitoring cell are conducting field inspection from time to time.
All bills are released only after field verification.
There might be some areas missed by the inspection team as the projects are mega projects and lengthy, he reasoned.
RD&PR chief engineer Pantising Thaimei, who was also present during the press meet, said that the 'geo-tagging' measure was initiated by minister Khemchand in order to ensure proper execution of work and prevent fund misappropriation.
There were no such measures in the past and adoption of the new measure has ensured proper work execution.
All works are assessed by state and central teams and bills are released only after field verification by central team, he added.
RD&PR joint secretary Ngangbam Ruben and assistant chief engineer Kh Rajen also attended the press meet.