Court directs contractor to complete works on time

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Nov. 22 (EMN): The Gauhati High Court of Kohima Bench has directed the contractor of the road projects under Meluri sub-division in Phek district to execute works in “full swing” so that they are ‘completed on time.’

The projects pertain to construction of three roads — Aken to Star Lake (15 km), Lephori to Molhe Camp (26 km), and T01 (Akash Bridge) to Kanjang (38 km) — of which the work orders for the first two projects were issued in 2011 and the third project in 2017. However, these road projects are yet to see the light of day.

The HC constituted committee consisting four advocates namely Joshua Sheqi, L Likhase, Moa Jamir, and Arenlong visited the sites on November 10 and 11 and submitted their report before the court.

The committee was accompanied by representatives from the office of the Chief Engineer, PWD (R&B) Nagaland, Kohima, along with the Executive Engineer, SDO and Junior Engineer from the establishment of PWD (R&B), Phek division, Phek.

“The committee report reveals that nothing much has been done on the ground and there has been overlapping of the works as alleged by the petitioners,” the court observed.

It directed the Chief Engineer of NPWD (R&B) to file an affidavit stating as to when the three projects would be completed giving the timelines for each component of the work.

“He shall also explain as to why there has been overlapping of the works on the three projects,” it added. The matter has been listed for hearing on December 7.

“Needless to say, the contractor shall continue to execute works in full swing so that the projects are completed in time,” the court stated.

The committee, in its report, stated that it found “unexecuted” works in the three projects that fall under the same stretch of road, which covers a total length of 56 km starting from TO1 to Star Lake.

The team recorded issues including insufficient earthen shoulder in sharp turns, unexecuted road surface drain, not executing works as per DPR, some areas requiring clearing and grubbing road and cutting of trees, insufficient earth cutting, no preparation of sub-grade and earthen shoulder, requirement as well as non execution of WBM Grade -I and Grade – III.

It also stated that many works are “yet to be executed” in terms of hume pipe culverts, RCC slab culverts, retaining wall and breast wall, side drain, premix carpeting etc.

It also stated that the second work order issued on November 20, 2011 (Lephori to Molhe Camp) overlapped the first work order issued on April 11, 2011 (Akhen to Star Lake); the third work order issued on November 21, 2017, (T01-Akash Bridge to Kanjang) overlapped the second work order (Lephori to Molhe Camp).