Projects taken up by PWD with funding from NEC/NLCPR State Govt yet to release its share
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 02 2016:
The State Government is yet to release its matching share amounting to over Rs 36 core for different projects taken up by PWD with funding from NEC/NLCPR.
The amount currently kept withheld is inclusive of Rs 40 lakh for development of road from Khongman Mangjil to Okram Chuthek.
With the State Government withholding its first instalment matching share of Rs 40 lakh, the road development work from Khongman Mangjil to Okram Chuthek has been suspended, according to information received from the State PWD.
For development of the 2.5 Kms long Other District Road (ODR), Ministry of DoNER sanctioned around Rs 11 crore under NLCPR.
The road (Khongman Mangjil-Okram Chuthek) project includes strengthening and expansion of the existing road, construction of RCC slab culvert (2 m), extension of existing slab culvert, removal of marshy soil from the adjoining canal and construction of line drain.
The project cost should be shared between the Ministry of DoNER and the State Government at the ratio of 90:10.However, the work order for the project was allotted to Special Contractor Md Nashir who bid for the contract work at a cost lower than the total estimated cost.
After executing some portions of the project including strengthening of the road and protection of work, the work agency has stopped executing the project.
For the same project, the Ministry of DoNER released Rs four crore and the amount was used in paying due liability of the particular work agency.
As per the Ministry's funding pattern, Rs four crore should be released in the first instalment followed by another Rs four crore in the second instalment and Rs three crore in the third instalment.
Against the amount of Rs four crore sanctioned by the Ministry in the first instalment, the State Government should release Rs 40 lakh.
The utilization certificate for the Rs four crore released by the Ministry and the Rs 40 lakh released by the State Government should be submitted to the Ministry.
The State Government should seek for release of the second instalment amount of Rs 4 crore after utilization certificate for the total Rs 4.4 crore is submitted to the Ministry.
However, with the State Government not releasing its first instalment share of Rs 40 lakh, Government officials are not in a position to seek the second instalment of Rs four crore.
In the meantime, the particular work agency has stopped executing the road development work as its due liability has not been paid.
As per NLCPR rules, the Ministry would not release any further fund unless the State Government releases its share.
On account of similar reasons, many projects taken up by PWD with funds drawn from NLCPR could not be finished.
This has rippling effects as no further NLCPR funds are released with the projects lying incomplete or abandoned midway.
If the situation is not addressed properly, the State may not be get any projects which are funded by NLCPR, informed the source.