PWD's working style sets Bora wagging his tongue

By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, April 22: Dispur MLA Atul Bora today ‘let the sun go down his anger’ on two issues – delay in a road project in his constituency that may lead to cost escalation and uncertainty over his inclusion into the Cabinet of Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal. 
Talking to the media at MLA Hostel here today, the MLA said: “The delay in the Rs 25-39-crore two-km four-lane ASRP road project under the World Bank from rengi to Bonda has irked me. The project is being done by Jayanti Construction contractor Papua Agarwala. The project should’ve been completed within 18 months. The foundation stone of the project was laid in December last, but the work is yet to be started. Such delay in project works leads to cost escalation, besides untold suffering to people. The contractor is busy with opening a cement factory, not with the road project. This contractor had constructed one or two bridges earlier. Because of delay the cost of those projects had to be escalated. Does he want the cost of this road project to escalate to Rs 32 crore? Such contractors should be blacklisted.”
Bora said: “I telephoned to PWD Minister Parimal Shuklabaidya over the issue, but the minister didn’t receive the call. I caution ministers, their departments and bureaucrats, besides contractors on such matters. Erring contractors should be blacklisted. I had been a PWD minister and I know as to what hurdles the department might face. I did straighten many hurdles in the department up. However, I’m not going to say as to how the department was run during the past 15-year Congress regime. If the department doesn’t change its style of work, it’ll certainly set tongues wagging in the State.” 
When asked on his me being mentioned among the members to be inducted into his Cabinet by the Chief Minister, Bora said: “Many say that justice has not been done to me. I should’ve been inducted on May 24, 2016 itself. I’ve just heard that my me may make in the list of eight to be inducted into the Cabinet, but I’m not sure. I would like to stay away from making any comment on my inclusion into the Cabinet. However, I’ve many things to say when the need arises.”
When asked if he met the Chief Minister on the issue, Bora said: “I met him earlier, but I don’t think is it imperative on my part to tell him anything on my inclusion into the Cabinet. I can feel what he wishes. However, the BJP is a tiol party that may have many hurdles.”