UKHRUL, December 23: The four village’s organizations in Ukhrul’s Chingai block, Phungcham, Paorei, Peh, Varenglai Development Committee (PPPVDC) has resolved to take legal proceedings against concerned contractor and sub-contractors for allegedly flouting the PMGSY norms during the construction of the ongoing Halang-Paorei road under PMGSY Phase lX part I.
The committee has also halted the work progress since the past five days.
Chairman Ngasoching Zimik claimed flouting of PMGSY guidelines on quality maintenance during the implementation of Part 1 Work.
Zimik who had led a team of the committee and media persons to a spot inspection of the said road last Monday had said since the guidelines have been flouted we have stopped the work to sort out the issue, however, so far the contractors have nor paud heed to out demand.
Now, the committee is ready to file a legal suit against the concerned agency, he claimed.
He continued the work order for the part l Halang-Paorei road construction covering 12 kms under Package No MNO 991/PMGSY-Phase IX was issued by the Manipur State Rural Roads Development Agency (MSRRDA) on November 12, 2014 to special class contractor Vareiyo VS.
The time span allowed for the black topping work with a total tender amount of Rs 42,635,547 is 18 months but till date not even drainage and ring culverts have been taken up, he claimed.
He further charged the contractors of indulging in easy means to complete the project quickly and of using soft boulders unearthed from the roadside rather than buying the quality materials.
Apart from compromising with the quality, they have also dishonored the villages by exploiting the villagers’ resources without their consent, he claimed.
Despite repeated appraisal to the concerned local MLA MK Preshow Shimray and MSRRDA authority who assured timely completion, the work has remained sluggish and still stuck in the first of the four stages of the road construction, he further alleged.
Zimik said that the committee would soon appraise the matter to the Union Ministry of Rural Development as well as the State Governor.
Maipak AE, MSRRDA inspected the site and took necessary measurements on November 16 but things have not changed, he claimed.
This being the case, we decided to halt the work progress with effect from December 16. In some portions of the stretch, the width have found to be as narrow as 8 feet with steep sides, while handful sized boulders were laid instead of granular stones, endangering travellers, he lamented.
Jordan Pheiray, a social activist said the road is far from satisfaction and the way it was constructed amounted to criminal breach of trust on the part of contractors concerned thereby inviting legal proceedings. He said that we will do the needful to get the work done as the villagers wish.
Phungcham village chairman Shanreipam Horam has expressed vehement disappointment over the alleged apathy of the concerned MLA to the plight of the four villages due to deplorable road connectivity for years.