Locals voice poor quality work

TANGLA, June 8: At a time when the State government is adopting a zero tolerance policy against corruption, gross negligence on the part of the contractor undertaking construction work of the Tangla-Mahaliapara road has come to the fore insofar as its poor quality is concerned. The road which falls partly in Darrang and also in Udalguri districts was lying in a dilapidated condition for the past decade.

Sources said Rs 1 crore was allocated for the work. The foundation stone of the stretch was laid jointly by Sipajhar legislator Binanda Kumar Saikia and Kalaigaon legislator Maheswar Baro on June 2. However, the black topping carpet in the Mahaliapara area laid on the night of June 5 has already started deteriorating and is peeling out like pieces of cake. Following protests from the local people, the contractor visited the site and apologized for the poor quality work on Thursday.

Expressing strong resentment, a resident of the area Kshema Dhar Sarma pointed out to this reporter the damaged portion of the road. Another resident of the area, Kushal Sahariah said, “We protested for nearly a decade to draw the attention of the government, but if such is the level of development, then we don’t need it. It is sheer misappropriation of public money!”

A local BJP activist Harish Chandra Deka also criticized the State government and department officials on the poor quality of the road that forms the lifeline for the people of the area.

Various organizations and students’ bodies have demanded a high-level inquiry into the matter and sought blacklisting of the construction company.