Francis inspects Chandel road
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 29 2016 :
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Francis Ngajokpa today inspected the road from Lamphou to Anal Khullen in Chandel district which would be repaired soon under 10th phase of PMGSY.
The Minister's entourage included MLA Nunghlung Victor, MSRRDA Chief Engineer N Bapuchand and some other officials.
Necessary amount for repairing the 15 Kms long road was sanctioned by the Government of India in November 2015.But the same work was delayed due to certain errors in the tender process.
Nonetheless, due process has been initiated to hold tender for the same work for the third time.
Speaking to accompanying media persons, Francis Ngajokpa said that people should cooperate when contractors, engineers and Government come to construct/repair roads in their respective areas.
It is not a welcome sign for hill people to pose obstacles against implementing development works in hill areas.
In the valley, people extend due cooperation so as to ensure that all road construction/repairing works are executed with due emphasis on the qualitative aspect.
Contractors are unable to execute contract works in hill districts as they are demanded 'taxes' by different elements as soon as machinery needed for executing the works are seen.
Development works executed in hill districts lack quality despite investing adequate funds because there are few people who are interested in monitoring work quality.
Prohibiting development works on the pretext of failure to pay 'taxes' by contractors would cost dear to hill areas in the long run, Francis said.
He also appealed to all contractors executing PMGSY works to give due emphasis to the qualitative aspect in the larger interest of people rather than seeking only profits.
Contractors should not bid for contract works at rates lower than the scheduled ones and they should execute whatever contract works allotted to them speedily without compromising quality.
Compromising quality while executing contract works in hill areas on the assumption that officials/engineers would not come for inspection is a wrong notion.
Bills would not be released if the works are not executed properly, cautioned the RD&PR Minister.
Both MLA Nunghlung Victor and Chief Engineer Bapuchand appealed to all interested contractors not to bid for the contract work of repairing Lamphou-Anal Khullen road below the scheduled rate.