DIMAPUR — Reiterating its earlier demand, the Nagaland Contractors & Suppliers Union (NCSU) has appealed to the Union Ministry of Rural Development department, to allot work order on “one firm one work order” basis during the Phase- III of PMGSY in Nagaland.
The NCSU, in a representation to the Union minister of Rural Development dated September 23, expressed gratitude to the RD ministry for implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) since 2000-2001.
The union however said that it is a setback to see the “adamant” attitude of the state government, particularly the Nagaland PWD (Road & Bridges), which floated 40 projects clustered into 16 packages, on behalf of the Rural Development department.
The NCSU maintained that the projects are practically impossible to be completed as per schedule even by “super contractors” since most of the districts have been clustered together with other districts.
The union also pointed out that in the past, notice inviting tender (NIT) were invited project-wise. Similarly, in the year 2017, there were 19 packages in various districts and accordingly, 19 firms were awarded work order. And as per merit of bidding in the year 2019, 13 packages were awarded accordingly, it informed.
However, the union claimed that it discovered many anomalies in the NIT PMGSY-III batch-I 2023-2024, dated August 25, 2023.
In this connection, the union informed that it had written a representation to the state chief minister on July 21, to break up 40 packages and allot work order one firm one work order in Nagaland.
“Moreover, National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency has issued detailed guidelines for construction of minimum 15% of road length by using new technologies under PMGSY. States and Union Territories would mandatorily construct roads under PMGSY-III by also using plastics waste within the minimum 15% of road length, prescribed for new technologies as envisaged in the detailed guidelines issued by NRIDA,” the union stated.
“And works will be packaged so as to attract competent contractors with modern machinery and equipment and capable of nurturing small contractors. Meanwhile, NPWD (R&B) invite (NIT) PMGSY-III batch-1 2023-2024 dated 25 August 2023 undermining union representation,” it stated.
The union further informed that on September 6 this year, it wrote another representation to the chief engineer (R&B) PWD, to keep in abeyance the NIT of PMGSY-III batch-I 2023-2024, till rectification of anomalies.
But till date, the union has not received any response from the office of chief engineer (R&B), it claimed.
“In view of this step-motherly treatment to the genuine registered contractors in Nagaland, we earnestly plea for justice from your esteem authority to kindly intervene the matter and take necessary action for the best interest of deserving registered contractors of Nagaland,” the representation added.
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