Congress legislature party (CLP) leader Tokheho Yepthomi, has issued a counter rejoinder to the clarifications issued by the commissioner and secretary (W&H) Temjen Toy and the other by the chief engineer NH (PWD) Peter Solo, that the SARPD (NE) two-lane widening project has been “temporarily suspended due to monsoons”.
Tokheho countered, if works were carried out when 80% earth work was completed, why has the contractor removed all machineries and even sold them “at throw away prices”?
He maintained that if 80% of the earth work was complete, M/s Maytas-Gayatri (JV) should remain at the site and clear the landslides. He further asked, that if the firm was at the site, then why were public made to suffer?
On the stand of the PWD (NH) that works were suspended as initial Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the project was “found deficient” was reappraised, Tokheho pointed out that the DPR had been prepared by a reputed company with expertise in the field.
The DPR was then routed to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) for technical observance and clearance, he said and added, that it was not apt to now claim that the DPR was deficient. Tokheho also demanded to know as to what were the terms of agreement between Maytas-Gayatri (JV) with MORTH.
He also pointed out that all four roads under SARPD were to be widened from single lane to double-lane on the following:
1. Pfutsero-Phek-via Sakraba (single-lane funded by NEC).
2. Chakhabama-Zunheboto (BRO and handed to contractors).
3. Changtongya-Longleng (single-lane by PWD and handed over to contractors).
4. Merangkong-Mon-Zero Point (constructed by BRO under NEC fund and handed over to contractors).
Based on the above mentioned facts, Tokheho asserted that the current works for the above roads under SARDP was not a fresh construction as they were already constructed earlier by various agencies. He said the only work presently was for widening from single-lane to two-lane. He therefore demanded to know from the NPWD as to how it has observed deficiencies in the DPR?
In this regard, Tokheho demanded that the NPWD provide following details for public information:
- The rate provided per kilometer while awarding contract for the four roads.
- Rates in other states having similar works for soil and rocky areas.
- Money so far released to the contracting firm by the ministry of surface transport.
- The revised rate per kilometer.
- Whether revised DPR was submitted to MORTH through Engineer-in-chief and through proper channel.
CYF flay CE PWD (NH) clarification
Reacting to chief engineer (CE) PWD (NH) clarification that “more than 80% of earth-work and 25% of culverts have been completed on all the four roads” under SARDP (NE) project executed by Maytas & Gayatri (JV), Chakhesang Youth Front (CYF) however said in Phek district the earth cutting was “not even 50%”.
CYF president, Zhopayi Nakro and organizing secretary Mudongoi Swuro said the statement appears that the CE was “willing to give clean chit to the executing authorities without having them to complete the work”. CYF said since the “CE was busy and had no time to
visit the spot”, he has been “misinformed by his subordinate officers” on the work progress.
Alleging that the Company had been “lackadaisical, callous while undertaking earth cutting work”, CYF said such has caused “blocking of natural outlets of river and streams, thereby causing landslide which in turn has robbed the livelihood of the people”.
Asserting that the commuters along Chakhabama-Zunhebhoto road had to “halt for hours due to landslide and mudslide, spending the night in the bus without food”, CYF said it has become a routine rather than an exception.
In this regard, CYF said it expected “more sensitive statement from the competent authorities rather than making pompous statement which contradicts reality”. CYF further assured cooperation to all concern for timely completion of the project.