PWD minister wants all-funds-no-work contractors ‘pursued’

Dimapur, April 22 (EMN): The minister for Public Works department (PWD) has instructed his department’s officers to “pursue those contractors” who are “doing minimal works despite release of funds.” Minister Tongpang Ozukum is said to have made the statement during a visit to the PWD’s housing facilities and the Mechanical Engineering division’s office in Dimapur on April 21. The minister visited the PWD rental housing complex first where he inspected the construction of new blocks, a press release from the minister’s media aide informed. He was said to have “expressed satisfaction with those contractors where were undertaking more works than the amount released.” However, he urged the officials to “pursue those contractors who were doing minimal works despite release of funds.” Officials told the minister that projects at hand should have been completed if not for ‘delay owing to fund constraints.’ They highlighted also issues of land encroachment and illegal occupation on government lands. ozukum has directed the officers to see that no government land falls into the wrong hands, the updates added. During the visit the minister interacted with the PWD rental housing complex tenants’ committee and heard their problems, the updates stated. The committee’s chairman, Khehoshe Shohe, was stated to have informed the minister that the walls of the campus holding in the boundary had collapsed on one side ‘thus becoming susceptible to anti-social activities inside the complex and also the imminent illegal occupation of government land.’ To this issue, the minister has assured ‘looking into the issue.’ The committee declared the entire complex as a plastic-free zone to mark the visit of the minister, it was informed. The committee also highlighted the need to ‘blacktop the road within the campus.’ Ozukum visited the office of the assistant mechanical engineer at Setam’s quarter and the PWD complex at Landmark colony. Likewise, he visited the PWD staff quarters at Sematilla colony. During his visit to the housing complexes, the minister enquired into the needs of the tenants and the problems they face. The tenants and officials present stressed on the need for repair and renovation, the press release stated. A request to construct a children’s park at Sematilla at the PWD staff quarter was also proposed. In this regard, Commissioner-secretary for Works & Housing Bendangkokba has directed the officers to submit a proposal to said facility. The minister visited the “roads and bridges sector” in Dimapur too, on April 20, the press release added.