HRI states case before Bhalla
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 07 2025: The Human Rights Initiative (HRI) has written to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla to take action against officials of the Manipur State Rural Roads Development Agency (MSRRDA) involved in cancelling PMGSY-III Batch-I of 2023-2024 and practicing irregularities while implementing the PMGSY scheme in Manipur.

In the letter, HRI administrator Thokchom Manoj raised concerns over the cancellation of 56 sanctioned works under PMGSY-III Batch-I of 2023-2024 .

According to Manoj, these projects were approved on March 7, 2024, and should have been awarded within 71 days, with a completion deadline of 12 months from the award date, as per the PMGSY operational manual.

However, the tenders were cancelled by the Chief Engineer of MSRRDA on December 11, 2024, without providing a specific reason, he added.

The tenders of PMGSY-3, Batch-I were cancelled based on a complaint filed by All Manipur Contractors' Association Forum against the Tender Inviting Authority for allegedly manipulating the PMGSY's prescribed Standard Bidding Documents (SDB) in many areas by adding extra clauses which are not as per PMGSY's guidelines and not feasible in an economically backward State like Manipur, he added.

He said that MSRRDA has violated the standard norms of PMGSY.

Moreover, MSRRDA has fallen short in implementing the PMGSY scheme in several areas, and there are also irregularities in handling the project, from preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) to maintaining the roads after construction, he claimed.

Manoj has urged the Governor to take action against officials responsible for violating PMGSY guidelines.

Specifically, he requested that those who manipulated the Standard Bidding Documents be held accountable and that the capabilities of MSRRDA officials be assessed to ensure they can implement the scheme correctly.

Manoj also suggested transferring the PMGSY scheme to another State engineering department, like PWD .

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