Dimapur, Sep. 16 (EMN): In response to the state’s department of Justice and Law’s assertion that it has no record of the Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) filing RTI query concerning the project to construct a High Court building in Nagaland, the NTC on Saturday claimed the department concerned had issued replies on two separate occasions.
A press release from the NTC stated that that department concerned had responded to the RTI query on June 21 as well as 24th. “Through the RTI reply letter No.LAW/RTI-4/2017 dated 21.06.2017, the public information officer, department of Justice and Law, Nagaland stated that 35 % of the works for construction of New High Court has completed. As per the annexure it has stated that the total estimated cost of the project is Rs 43.75 crore.
“Through the RTI reply letter No. FIN/REV-4/RTI/9/14/434 dated 24.06.2017, the public information officer, department of Finance, Nagaland has furnished copies of 18 (eighteen) drawal authority(s) issued under demand No. 04- Justice and Law for construction of New High Court Complex and Building at Meriema, Kohima from 2007-08 till August, 2017,” it informed.
The NTC listed the following withdrawals:
- On 30.03.2009 a drawal authority of Rs 5 crore was issued for construction of New High Court Building (STATE PLAN)
- On 28.03.2010 a drawal authority of Rs 1 crore was issued for construction of New High Court Building (STATE PLAN)
- On 29.03.2010 a drawal authority of Rs 7 crore was issued for infrastructure development of New High Court Building (STATE PLAN)
- On 31.03.2010 a drawal authority of Rs 5 crore was issued for infrastructure development of New High Court Building (CIVIL DEPOSIT)
- On 31.03.2010 a drawal authority of Rs 1 crore 46 lakh was issued for construction works of New High Court Building (STATE PLAN)
- On 31.03.2010 a drawal authority of Rs 54 lakh was issued for construction of Retaining Wall of New High Court Building (STATE PLAN)
- On 30.03.2011 a drawal authority of Rs 70 lakh was issued for construction of 2 KM of New High Road (STATE PLAN)
- On 30.03.2011 a drawal authority of Rs 50 lakh was issued for construction of Retaining Wall of New High Court Building (STATE PLAN)
- On 31.03.2011 a drawal authority of Rs 8 crore was issued for construction of New High Court Building and Judges Bungalow (STATE PLAN)
- On 31.03.2011 a drawal authority of Rs 30 lakh was issued for payment of Consultant Fees construction of New High Court Building (STATE PLAN)
- On 31.03.2011 a drawal authority of Rs 50 lakh was issued for infrastructure facilities including water supply , electricity etc (STATE PLAN)
- On 31.03.2011 a drawal authority of Rs 10 crore was issued for construction of New High Court Building and Judges bungalows (STATE PLAN)
It called upon the department concerned to furnish the utilisation reports, for public consumption and verification, since the ‘construction of new High Court Building project is within a public domain’.
it also pointed out that the “estimated cost of the project for construction of New High Court complex is not consistent, in as much as, as per the statements of the PIO, Justice and Law department dated 21.06.2017 it is Rs 43.75 crore.”
It has asked the department of Justice and Law to “clarify the factors and circumstances that have inordinately delayed the completion of the new High Court Complex for more than 10 (ten) years.”
