Hold up all pending bills : Chingai VDC to Govt
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 27 2011:
Peeved with alleged sub-standard construction of a minor irrigation dam under IFCD at Chingai village in Ukhrul district, the chairman of Chingai Village Development Committee (CVDC) Ruivah Somingam has expressed strong resentment against the contractors concerned and urged the Government to immediately hold up all pending bills related to the dam construction work.
According to a release issued by the VDC chairman, certain contractors in collusion with some locals have recently constructed a minor irrigation dam at Chingai village along Chalou river under IFCD at an undisclosed amount.
Despite sub-standard construction of the dam which eventually created a catastrophe in the irrigation system of the village, a completion report was submitted to the department concerned for withdrawing final bill, it alleged.
Even the village development committee did not have any knowledge about the work, until it came to light when some land owners lodged a complaint about land encroachment and sub-standard methods used in the construction of the dam, it claimed.
After a spot inquiry was made by the CVDC to verify the complaint in the last week of May, the same was subsequently lodged to the Chief Engineer IFCD.
However, till date no necessary steps have been taken up by the department concerned to address the matter despite repeated appeal made by the VDC, it rued.
"Interestingly, few weeks later, the dam under question, which was clandestinely constructed within a span of 2/3 weeks collapsed and its remnants were washed away by the torrential rains destroying a huge tract of paddy fields," it lamented.
Terming such unwanted outcome as a serious case of robbing of people's development and utter negligence on the part of the Government, the CVDC has demanded the department concerned to immediately hold up all pending bills related to the dam construction work.
While cautioning that no agencies will be allowed to execute any developmental works in the village without prior information, the VDC also demanded immediate deputation of a team for spot inquiry.