Dam for water supply cave in at Singngat
Source: The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite
Lamka, April 15 2012:
A crucial component of a water supply augmentation scheme sanctioned under NEC for Singngat sub-divisional headquarters � a minor dam caved in even before it has begun functioning, exposing the shoddy nature of construction undertaken by the contractors under the 'watchful eye' of the Government.
The news about the collapse was first exposed by a blogger, which was verified last week by Singngat's Vision 2020 implementing team.
Singngat AC MLA GS Haopu also personally visited some of the work sites yesterday.
It is reported that the MLA has instructed the contractors concerned to reconstruct the dam while also instructing those constructing a water tank in the vicinity of Singngat township to halt their work as it was found sub-standard.
A source well versed with the scheme said raw 'Balu Shingle' was used in constructing the dam as well as the tank.
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Besides, very few iron rods are visible in the dam that was meant to store stream water.
Water is always a scare resource in Singngat as long as one can recall, yet Government sponsored schemes one after the other has always fallen fall short of addressing this long pending issue.
This eventually led to collection of concerned citizens under the bannerZogam Media Watch (ZMW) to seek details of the water augmentation scheme sanctioned by DoNER on March 3, 2010 under the Right to Information Act.
They received a detailed report on May 5, 2010 and June 11, 2010 .
The contractors it seems were not even moved by the RTI as they dared flout the guidelines but were finally smitten by exposure of their work that collapsed even before they were tested.
Engineers accompanying the MLA yesterday were reported to have told the MLA that, some of the ongoing works as well are bound to cave in as guidelines have been severely flouted, prompting the MLA to instruct a complete make-over.