'Ghost contractor' haunts Thangmeiband AC, crores withdrawn
Joykisan asks contractor's details
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 28 2022:
Thangmeiband AC MLA Khumukcham Joykisan has asked details of a contractor named GG Rongmei who has allegedly withdrawn crores of rupees in the name of contract works without executing most of these works.
Speaking to media persons today, Kh Joykisan reminded that he asked all concerned on May 23 to start implementation of the contract works of which sanctioned amounts had been already withdrawn within five days.
As the five days' period expired yesterday, the MLA went to different project sites today but he could see no sign of executing the projects/works.
"After it was learnt that work order for construction of retaining wall around Khoyathong Pukhri Achouba was awarded to one GG Rongmei of Thangmeiband Tarung, I called officials of the department concerned and pointed out that I have already constructed retaining wall around the community pond", Joykisan said.
Work order for construction of retaining wall around a pond purportedly located near Major Khul community hall was also found awarded to GG Rongmei on July 31, 2021, said the MLA.
He said that similar works of constructing retaining walls were allotted to all 27 wards of the Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) .
With the primary objective of rejuvenating community ponds and conserving water, Rs 10 lakh each were sanctioned for construction of retaining walls around community ponds in each of the 27 wards, the MLA said.
Out of the Rs 10 lakh sanctioned for construction of retaining wall around Khoyathong Pukhri Achouba, almost 60/70 per cent had been paid to the contractor as advance money.
"We cannot see any pond in the highly congested Major Khul.
When I enquired the engineers concerned if there was any pond, they said they would go to the spot and check.
A few days later, they told me that there is no pond", Joykisan said.
"As there is no pond, I suggested construction of retaining wall around the 'Ibudhou's pond' located within DM College campus but when I went to the work site today, it was found that the sanctioned fund had been already withdrawn without doing any work", he said.
It has been found, after enquiry, that most of the contract works allotted in all the 27 wards of IMC were awarded to GG Rongmei.
Even though Rs 42,51,282 was withdrawn in the name of constructing a drain at Thangmeiband Lourung Purel Leikai, no drain was constructed.
The contractor was summoned but he did not come, he said.
No work has been initiated yet even though sanctioned amounts for many projects/contract works had been already withdrawn and the contractors could not be traced.
On being enquired at Thangmeiband Tarung, the supposedly native village of GG Rongmei, no local said they knew the man, the MLA said.
Officials of the department concerned said that GG Rongmei sent his men to collect both work orders and cheques.
Saying that the contractor himself should sign on the work agreements at the office in front of the Executive Officer, the MLA asked as to how cheques of several crores were issued to GG Rongmei in his absence.
He then urged both the Chief Minister and the MAHUD Minister to trace and bring out GG Rongmei.
The MLA alleged that GG Rongmei is a ghost created by vested machineries.
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