Pul sets targets to complete official buildings

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itagar, Feb 28: Aruchal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalikho Pul has set April 20 as the target to complete the Civil Secretariat and August 14 as the deadline for completion of the Legislative Assembly building.

Pul, who inspected both the building yesterday, expressed concern for non-completion of both the buildings even after 10 years, an official release informed here today.

The chief minister issued directives to the PWD and the construction agencies to work 24×7 to achieve the target and meet the deadline. He directed the construction agencies to increase the manpower, including masons, carpenters and engineers, and work in three shifts on eight hourly basis.

Directives were also issued to the executing department officers and engineers to monitor the pace of the work round-the-clock by making a work chart.

Action like suspension would be taken on-the-spot against any government officers, who are found dereliction of their duty or those who are found absent, Pul warned and said that unnounced inspections would be made any time and any day.

Pul questioned as to how the origil cost of the Civil Secretariat which, was Rs. 91.86 crore in 2009, escalated to Rs 198.56 crore in 2016 while the department has to freeze the tender below the origil sanctioned amount. Concerned over appearance of five different figures starting from Rs 51.81 crore as origil estimated cost, Rs. 38.92 crore as sanctioned amount, a projected tender cost of Rs. 41 crore, a projected revised cost estimate of Rs. 119.50 crore and filly modified revised cost of Rs. 135.85 crore with regard to the Assembly building, the CM directed the Chief Secretary to immediately verify the matter and place it before him for appropriate actions.

He also hinted of a detailed enquiry into various loopholes and sought detailed justification of the queries he has raised, the release said.

Pul assured to provide the required fund for completion of the two projects maintaining that the state and its people cannot and should not suffer due to faults of few.

He directed the Principal Secretary Fince to release 20 crore for Aruchal Civil Secretariat and another 20 crore for Aruchal Legislative Assembly building.

He, however, maintained that the project should ensure fincial as well as physical discipline during execution and all other corresponding activities like photography and videography of the projects should be done for transparency.

The chief minister was upset by the substandard civil works undertaken in the civil secretariat as the locks, tower bolts and door handles were already broken while there was no water facility in the washrooms.

Directing for immediate rectification of the faults, the CM warned that such low standard works would not be tolerated and those found involved in such activities would be strictly dealt with according to the laid down provisions.

He further directed the department to ensure sample display of the materials used during construction which should be coupled by price list.

Tender should be floated for such materials and there should not be any compromise with the materials. In case of deviation, complete replacement should be made besides stringent actions would be attracted, he assertively said.

Pul made it amply clear that the Civil Secretariat and the Assembly Building should be equipped with all essential services, like power and drinking water facility round the clock. Apart from the regular electricity supply from power grid and sub-stations, there would be back up DG sets to supply power to the buildings.

He asked the department to make provisions for taping electricity through solar energy. There should be independent power supply to every block and even in every floors of the building, he viewed.

Expressing surprise over non-inclusion of security fencing in the DPR of the Civil Secretariat, Pul instructed the department to immediately construct it to ensure security of the employees and officers for which he assured to make funds available.

He directed the engineers to take up the planning office as well as the APSC building to bring it under the security purview.

Declaring to convene the next Assembly Session of September in the new building, the Chief Minister exhorted the officers and construction agencies to put their heart in completing the projects in the given targeted time.

He also suggested for ming the Aruchal Pradesh Civil Secretariat as Aruchal Civil Secretariat and Aruchal Pradesh Legislative Assembly as Aruchal Legislative Assembly.

Pul was accompanied by Aruchal Legislative Assembly Speaker Wangki Lowang, legislators Pema Khandu, Kumar Waii, Passang D So, Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary Fince and PWD Chief Engineer, the release added.