AHTA, HKL halt construction works at Pettigrew College
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, September 03 2024: All Hunphun Tang Association (AHTA) and Hunphun Katamnao Long (HKL) have halted the ongoing construction of the academic block and the 100-bedded boys' and 100-bedded girls' hostels at Pettigrew College in Ukhrul district with immediate effect from Tuesday.

The move came in response to the sluggish progress of the works, which are already running behind the stipulated completion timeline.

The decision was taken during a joint inspection of the ongoing works by the AHTA and HKL on Tuesday.

Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the inspection, HKL president Sorin Ragui justified the decision to halt construction citing the contractors' failure to meet deadlines, despite several reminders about the urgent needs of students and faculty.

"We are forced to stop the works starting today until we receive a firm assurance on a completion timeline from the contractors concerned," he explained.

Ragui highlighted the severe challenges faced by both the faculty and students due to the prolonged delay in completing the academic block, which has resulted in a lack of adequate classrooms.

"We empathise with the students and teachers who are left with no alternative but to hold classes in makeshift areas, including garages and an incomplete model library building," he added.

The leader of the Hunphun Student body further raised concerns about the precarious conditions of some classes being conducted in one of the library blocks.

"This building is in a deteriorating state and could collapse anytime, thereby jeopardising the safety of both the students and faculties," he said.

Showing support to the move taken by the students' body, AHTA chairman Chonme Raleng warned that if the relevant authorities do not intervene and take prompt actions, they would intensify their protests.

He pointed out that, as per the work order, the construction of the academic block began on December 4, 2021, with a completion time of 18 months.

Similarly, the construction of the boys' and girls' hostels started on May 17, 2022, also with an 18-month timeline.

"The timeline for the three projects has lapsed.

Yet, we have observed a sluggish pace of progress and hardly 50 per cent of the work has been completed.

There is a noticeable lack of workforce, and the supply of raw materials has been grossly insufficient," he lamented.

In an interaction during the inspection, work in-charge Fakrul Islam admitted the slow progress of the work, and expressed his helplessness in the face of inadequate supply of raw materials.

He revealed that raw materials particularly cement, bricks and sands have exhausted and the next supply is being awaited.

It is learnt that the construction projects for the academic block and the main entrance of Pettigrew College, as well as the hostels accommodating 100 boys and 100 girls each, were awarded to one Y Sunil Singh from Keishamthong Thangjam Leirak, Imphal West.

The estimated cost for the academic block and main gate is Rs 14,98,14,714, while the estimated cost for each of the hostels stands at Rs 7,14,39,296 .

The projects are part of infrastructure development programme under the Manipur Minorities and OBC Economic Development Society (MOBEDS) .

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