Hunphun bodies halt construction at Pettigrew College
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, May 11 2022:
Hunphun village organisations have resolved to halt the ongoing construction of the Academic Block of William Pettigrew College over alleged use of sub-standard materials and flouting project specifications.
Hunphun Village Authority (HVA), Hunphun Katamnao Long (HKL) and All Hunphun Tang Association (AHTA) took the decision after conducting a joint inspection of the construction site on Wednesday.
The Academic Block is supposed to have nine rooms on the ground floor and 10 rooms on the first floor.
With three blocks namely A Block and B Block and C Block (Southern) and B Block and C Block (Northern), the upcoming building will have 2 lecture theatre rooms and 4 seminar halls.
"We have found in our inspection today that quality is being compromised in the construction of the college's Academic Block, by using low grade materials.
This is a serious matter," said AHTA chairman Chonmi Raleng.
He said that the specified size of iron rod is 30 mm but 20mm iron rod is being used for the construction.
Similarly, the specified number of iron bars is 12 but it has been reduced to just 10 numbers and low quality sand collected from the river is being used.
Moreover, the specified size of building has also been reduced, he pointed out, stating that "the length of the North and Southern Blocks is specified as 295 feet but the ongoing construction measured 286 feet only" .
He further stated that the two wing structures also measured less than the stipulated 124 feet.
HKL president Ngaworpei Ragui, who was also present in the inspection, said that they were constrained to put a halt to the ongoing construction works after they discovered that the construction is flouting the prescribed quality and standard.
It is learnt that the construction comprises Academic Block and Main Gate at Pettigrew College and the estimated cost of the construction is Rs 14,98,15,250 with a time frame of 18 months for completion.
One Y Sunil Singh of Keishamthong Thangjam Leirak, Imphal West was awarded the work by the Manipur Minorities and OBC Economic Development Society (MOBEDS), an autonomous body under the Department ofMA/OBC& SC on December 4, 2021 .