383 incomplete projects worth INR 1,300 crore in Nagaland – NPRAAF

DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) has alleged that there are 383 incomplete projects worth over INR 1300 crore in Nagaland since 2003.

The NPRAAF, in a press release, also claimed that the central government had sanctioned the requisite amount to the state government to implement these projects in various departments, but the projects are still incomplete, which, the forum said, “is a matter of concern.”

Alleging that INR 1,380.04 crore has been spent by 36 departments for these “incomplete/ongoing projects,” it said the “age profile of incomplete projects based on the year of sanction/year of start” starts from 2003.

Citing the 2023 CAG report, the forum disclosed that out of the 36 departments, the major defaulting departments are PWD (Roads and Bridges) – INR 258.85 crore against 15 projects; PWD (Housing) – INR 235.56 crore against 35 projects; Police Engineering Project – INR 177.75 crore against 48 projects; Urban Development – INR 96.77 crore against 26 projects; Geology and Mining – INR 48.95 crore against four projects; Veterinary and Animal Husbandry – INR 19.3 crore against 62 projects; and Civil Administration Works – INR 15.33 crore against 179 incomplete projects.

The forum also pointed out that the CAG report revealed that, from 2003 to 2011, there were 63 incomplete projects for which INR 722.61 crore was spent, with a cost over-run amounting to INR 156.61 crore.

In 2011-12 an amount of INR 67.96 crore was spent on 19 incomplete projects, while in 2012-13 INR 132.86 crore was spent on 39 ongoing projects with a cost over-run of INR 25.84 crore, it said.

As per the NPRAAF, the number of incomplete projects and amount spent over the subsequent years are: 2013-14 (134 projects, INR 53.55 crore); 2014-15 (59 projects, INR 23.98 crore); 2015-16 (21 projects, INR 96.18 crore); 2016-17 (10 projects, INR 11.98 crore); 2017-18 (34 projects, INR 67.48 crore); 2018-19 (nine projects, INR 42.78 crore); and 2019-20 (four projects, INR 5.28 crore).

The forum appealed to the government of Nagaland to promptly complete the projects in the greater interest of the Nagas.

“The people of Nagaland must be aware of its rights and responsibilities as a responsible citizen and raise voice, wherever necessary instead of remaining mute in the face of corruption,” it added.