Principal Correspondent
Kohima, December 16
The Opposition Congress today alleged that the department of Higher Education is not serious about completion of the construction of the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) Centre Zunheboto. Raising supplementary queries during the question hour of the Assembly, Opposition MLA S. Hukavi Zhimomi pulled up the Higher Education department for not being able to complete construction of DIET Centre Zunheboto and also shifting of the Centre for almost three times during the last eight years. He also charged department with shifting the Centre to Zunheboto after completion of 50% work at Aghunato.
He further asserted that the department had failed to float proper tender while awarding contract work for the DIET Centre. He added that even as the work order had not been issued, two contractors have already started the construction but they stopped the work due to high percentage of commission.
He said Parliamentary Secretary for Higher Education Deo Nukhu should be fully held responsible while maintaining that the Parliamentary Secretary has been misguiding the House.
He alleged that the department is not serious and therefore demanded for setting up of Vigilance Committee to enquire into the progress of the works.
Interestingly, on Hukavi’s allegation that the Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) was not advertised in newspapers, Chief Minister TR Zeliang replied that it was done on October 21, 2014. However, on the other hand, Deo Nukhu in his written reply to Hukavi’s demand to furnish the names of contractors/firms being given the contract, said administrative approval for construction of DIET centre was accorded recently (December 10, 2014) for processing the tender paper.
JNNURM:
The Opposition Congress also expressed concern over the allocation of flats under Jawaharal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) in Dimapur.
Parliamentary Secretary for Urban Development Zhaleo Rio, replying to MLA SI Jamir, said 240 dwelling units have been allotted at Netaji Colony Dimapur while also furnishing the names of beneficiaries.
However, Jamir remarked that the flats were not allocated to the poorest of the poor but to the middle class people who even have vehicles while some of beneficiaries had already rented out the flats to other individuals. He, therefore, asked the department to properly verify it.
