Nagaland public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) has expressed shock that not a single kilometer in any of the four roads under the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in North East (SARDP-NE) in Nagaland were complete despite spending Rs. 602.34.
NPRAAF through its information and publicity wing pointed out that Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India found various anomalies in the implementation of the SARDP-NE in Nagaland. CAG report tabled in the state assembly stated that the preliminary activities taken up by the public works department (PWD) were “inadequate” for timely implementation of the project, it stated.
As per CAG report, the forum said the detailed project reports (DPRs) prepared for four roads were not based on adequate surveys and investigation resulting in large deviation in the implementation of the works from the approved DPRs.
CAG report also stated that a proportionate amount of Rs. 36.44 crore paid to the consultant for preparation of DPRs for four roads was a “waste.”
As a consequence, CAG report said not a single kilometer in any of the four roads was completed as per the objectives of the scheme despite an expenditure of Rs. 602.34 crore on execution of work so far, adding that no further progress of work had been achieved on any of the four roads since August 2012.
Further, NPRAAF pointed out that the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) in April 2008 initiated a mega road development programme in the North East region under the banner SARDP-NE. In April 2010, it said the Ministry approved for two-laning of the four roads in Nagaland in one package for Rs. 1,296 crore including centage charges. Accordingly, the forum said the administrative approval, technical approval and financial sanction for the works were accorded in December 2010.
Stating that the matter cannot brushed under the carpet, NPRAAF has, therefore, demanded that the government set up an inquiry into the misappropriation of fund and punish those responsible for siphoning public fund without sense of guilt and shame.
NPRAAF affirmed that it would not stay quiet on the matter, but would keep pressing the government until justice was delivered.