IMPHAL, January 5: The Chief Secretary O Nabakishore has stated that there has been communication with the Central authorities regarding the damages incurred to Laxmi market and New Market by the earthquake.
He said that he has talked over with National Crisis Management Group today and informed the Cabinet Secretary, Govt. of India that NBCC (National Buildings Construction Corporation ) should be held accountable for the damage. “
We have seen the rubble from the Laxmi market and it just crumbles, there is tell-tale signs of poor quality in construction,” he told media persons at Old Secretariat Works minister chamber today.
He mentioned that the Ima Market was constructed by the PWD and it still stands undamaged from the quake tremors and that the PWD should not be accountable for damages of the other two market buildings.
He said that he will definitely hold NBCC accountable and ask them to foot expenses, even if a new structure has to be built.
However, when this reporter queried whether if there was any mention in the work contract between NBCC and the Government of Manipur that the company should be responsible for any damages man made or natural incurred on Laxmi bazaar and New Market ?
The Chief Secretary replied that he was not aware of such circumstances and had no knowledge of the contract. This states that the CS had no idea of the contract work with NBCC and simply told mediapersons that he will hold NBCC accountable in his own capacity.
Contradicting his own statement, he also replied to a query on how the work was awarded to NBCC and why the State PWD did not oversee the work. He replied that NBCC is a premier public sector undertaking of the Ministry of Urban Development and have an impeccable record.
The CS who accompanied the Works minister in his official chamber was also joined by PWD top officials. But, when asked how the tender was floated and who bidded the tenders, the officials had no clear idea.
The CS also owned up that NBCC handed over the construction of the Ima Keithel to PWD. He hinted that the Company was not able to work due to ‘unwanted pressure’ faced constantly.
The Engineers present could not evaluate the extent of damage of the two markets and had just deemed it unsafe.
However, they had the technical knowledge to open up the Minuthong bridge as they had studied the damage and considered it safe for passage.