Controversy over key road construction in Chirang district

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, August 31: Arguments over construction of a black top road worth Rs 1.50 crore is going on in Chirang district as the party which constructed the road from tiol Highway 31 (C) to Paddapur covering 2.5 km has claimed to have completed the work as per official order with their papers while another party lodged a complaint stating that the road had not been constructed and the money had been misappropriated.

A group of local people under the leadership of yan Brahma lodged a complaint at PWD (R&B), Chirang division recently and collected the detailed report through RTI. In the reply, the PWD (R&B), Chirang division stated that the department concerned accorded work of construction of road from tiol Highway 31 (C) to Paddapur passing through Krishpur, Nimagaon reaches to Paddapur in the fincial year 2009-10 to contractor Kamal Basumatary. The department also revealed that the works were inspected by the then Executive Engineer along with department officers like AEE and AE from time to time but the copy of the same at present was not available in their division and hence they could not furnish along with the reply.

The department also stated that signboard could not be provided in the road for the scheme with description of the work due to provision not included in the sanctioned estimate. The department published advertisement in certain dailies inviting short tender notice for the construction of road from NH 31 (C) to Paddapur in BTC area in Chirang district in three groups amounting to Rs. 49, 98,308, Rs. 49, 98,308 and Rs. 49, 98,299 respectively. The department also stated that the road had been executed.  

Meanwhile, the opposition group, not satisfied with the reply from the department concerned, again lodged a complaint regarding non-execution of construction of road from NH 31 (C) to Paddapur in BTC area for the year 2009-10 under AOP and misappropriation of government fund of Rs 1.50 crore earmarked for the road at Sidli Police Station on August 3, 2015.

On the other hand, the construction party clarified that the work had been done as per work order. According to them the appellants mentioned the road started from Polashbari point of NH 31 (C) to Paddapur in their complaint letter but the work they had done started from Krishpur point of NH 31 (C) to Paddapur and hence the complaint was not based on fact.