Nagaland Congress calls for investigation into 6 unfinished development projects

DIMAPUR — The Public Grievances Department (PGD) of the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee has demanded a thorough investigation into a series of developmental projects that have faced significant delays and withdrawal of funds without substantial progress in Mokokchung district.

Among the projects under scrutiny were the construction of a waiting shed at Alongtaki village under Japukong (LADP 2019-2020), the development of a link road in Japukong, and the construction of another waiting shed.

In the case of the waiting shed at Alongtaki village, the PGD said that an amount of INR 15 lakh was approved by the Sub-Divisional Planning and Development Board (SDPDB), for which the verification committee members had allegedly issued a completion certificate. Questioning the issuance of a completion certificate when “no works are being initiated”, it sought clarification from the administration heads of Alongtaki village.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, the grievances cell of the Congress stated that it would not tolerate any fraudulent activities and demanded an investigation into the matter.

It claimed that the SDPDB had approved and sanctioned INR 13.2 lakh for the construction of a link road in Japukong, and INR 7.5 lakh for a waiting shed but the former project hasn’t taken off, while the latter is “non-existent.” In this connection, the PGD called for immediate verification by the Alongtaki village administration and execution of the work as per the amount sanctioned.

Another significant issue brought to light was the allocation of funds for the construction of a Multipurpose Hall at Lakhuni. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs had reportedly allotted an amount of INR 1 crore for the project and 30% (INR 30 lakh) of the funds has been withdrawn, as per the information gathered through RTI.

Similarly, INR 50 lakh was allocated by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for the construction of an internal road at Longchem EAC HQ, for which 30% (INR 15 lakh) of the fund had been withdrawn without substantial progress. The purported Health Centre at Alongtaki also met with a similar fate, with the RTI report showing 30% (INR 12 lakh) of the total allocated amount of INR 40 lakh being withdrawn, according to the PGD.

Claiming that the work progress of these projects is nil despite the withdrawal of 30% of funds, it reminded the concerned firms — M/S Zenith Enterprise and Skyline Enterprise — to commence the work at the earliest.

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