Dimapur, Oct. 10 (EMN): Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland on Wednesday countered the executive engineer PWD (R&B) Phek on the Pokhungri- Avankhu road project in Nagaland.
The ACAUT said that it files RTI after receiving complaints and concerns in matters of public importance. It said that its press release on Pokhungri- Avankhu road project dated Oct. 6, which was published in the local media, was as per the RTI (right to information) it had received from the PWD (R&B) Dept. Government of Nagaland.
The ACAUT hit back at the executive engineer PWD (R&B) Phek, who termed the allegations by the ACAUT as ‘technically without substance and uncalled for’. It asked the officials “to explain, how is that when earlier Contractor M/s Nagaland builders who after encountering “un-anticipated rocks” had surrendered and work order was cancelled because it was ill-equipped to handle the unforeseen working conditions”.
It said that, as per the RTI information, the total length of the road is 18.49 kms but it has turned out to be 24 km. exceeding by over 6kms in-order to connect the ITC Avankhu, which raises many questions.
“The fact of the matter is that; shouldn’t the contractor have first concentrated on the work project assigned to him and not deviate from the specified project and so here we are in a situation, where the road project is still incomplete after almost 6 six years past its completion date. Who should be held accountable for this?” stated the ACAUT through a press release.
It reminded the executive engineer of PWD (R&B) Phekon quality work.
“While one may concede to the shabby DPR made without proper technical study the first time and work being given to an ill-equipped firm, however to cite the same reason the second time is simply not acceptable and puts a huge question on competency of the engineers and the contractors who are part of this project and the efficiency of the PWD(R&B) dept. to handle projects,” the ACAUT stated.
It also stated that out of the 5 approved border trade centers, Avankhu is one such strategically located prime trade centre, not only between the two countries but to trade with the ASEAN countries hence it is of prime importance for the region and a race against time to go in tandem with the Act East Policy.
