Dept accepts false completion report on Ukhrul PMGSY project
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Pamreiso Shimray

Ukhrul, March 11 2014 : In yet another PMGSY project controversy, the relevant department in collusion with work agency has duped the public by undertaking a concocted project and further compounding the problem by issuing a false completion report on road construction from National Highway 152 to Choithar village while the ground realities have a different story to tell.

A centrally sponsored PMGSY road project from NH 152 to Choithar village, which was started in 2008 under package No.916 (6th phase) at estimated cost of 3.45 cr, has racked up a intense protest among the public in the areas.

In fact, the distance from NH to Choithar village is only 4km, but the work was sanctioned for a distance of 13.5 km and the concerned department has allegedly issued a completion report in collusion with the contractor.

On Tuesday afternoon, a team of journalists and members of Tangkhul Naga Contractors Long (TNCL) visited the work site along with elders from the surrounding villages.

A visit to the site beyond Choithar village tells a different story as the work has not been completed and the road project has been undertaken without prior consultation with the locals.

In spite of the sanctioned order that indicate construction from NH to Choithar village, the road project was taken up beyond the designated site and reportedly trying to connect Khangkhui Khullen village.

The project is far from completion and even the bridge at Chihui river, the main tributary of Thoubal turrel, has not been constructed.

Vaikhang Development Front (VDF) has raised serious objection to the concerned department and the work agency for duping the public in the areas, and for the work undertaken without consulting the villagers.

In a press conference held in Ukhrul today, VDF chairman Hongva said the centrally funded road project has been agreed to connect five villages comprising Choithar, Khangkhui Khunou, Khangkhui Khullen, Nungshong Khunou and Nungshong Khullen.

"...the work has been taken up arbitrarily by the contractor and concerned official in the department without any consultation with the area villagers," he stated.

He added that the present work has never been taken up properly and trying to divert to Khangkhui Khullen without passing through Khangkhui Khunou as agreed upon before taking up the work.

VDF chairman said the PMGSY road project is to follow the BMS alignment and has to go through Khangkhui Khunou.

However, it follows the old road used during the colonial period.

Interestingly, the department issued notification on December 2012 that PMGSY package No.916 (10km) has been completed, and in yet another circular, it published on December 27, 2013 that the same work (13km) has been completed.

VDF argued that the work, as it has not been constructed with consultation with the public in the areas, has created a lot of confusion among the public and demanded the state government come clear on the issue.

It also alleged that a huge area of paddy fields and farmlands has been wantonly damaged by the project.

In this regard, the VDF has also filed a PIL in the court which has passed interim order instructing the work agency to halt the road construction.

Ironically, the road construction is still going on despite the official notification that it has been completed in 2012 and 2013 .

After inspecting the work site today, the TNCL also declared that the project is far from completion and wondered how the department has accepted the completion reported submitted by the contractor.

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