Government officials prohibited from changing civil work projects in Nagaland

KOHIMA— In what could reduce the cost and completion time of projects in the state, the government of Nagaland, Works and Housing department, has prohibited the ‘change of scope of civil works (Housing) projects without the approval of competent authority’.

An office memorandum issued by the commissioner and secretary to the state government, stated that all departments are required to obtain technical administrative approval and planning clearance before the implementation of all civil works projects under Government of Nagaland executed by the Public Works Department.

It reminded that competent authorities have been set up for approval of civil work projects before implementation, wherein the chief engineer is in-charge of projects below INR 3 crore; HLTC and SPRMCC for those between INR 3 crore and INR 5 crore; and SLPIMC for projects worth INR 5 lakh and above.

These authorities capture and frozen the scope of work for all projects during the approval stage, before tender and award of contracts, but “many departments have the tendency to change the scope of the work (Bill of Quantities) during the implementation of the projects without obtaining the approval the competent authorities”, said the memorandum.

Pointing that the department officials and senior dignitaries issue directions to site engineers and contractors to alter, add or remove specifications without obtaining prior approval, it said this leads to unabated escalations in project cost, delay work and jeopardise the work ethics and careers of site engineers.

Citing this, all departments have been asked ‘to exercise necessary checks to capture the required scope of works at the beginning of the projects and to avoid changing the scope during or at the end the projects without the approval of empowered committees.

It went on to say that approval is mandatory before issuing a direction at site even if there is merit in changing the scope of work at any stage.