SHILLONG, DEC 11: The National People’s Party (NPP) on Tuesday demanded the setting up an ‘inquiry commission’ to probe the delay in the construction of the Jowai Supermarket Project that was sanctioned way back in 2001 as it feared there could be a possibility of the funds being “misappropriated”.
The DoNER-funded Rs 18.09 project is being executed by the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), but even after more than 10 years of it being sanctioned, the supermarket is yet to be constructed. In fact, DoNER had sanctioned Rs 6.33 crores as the first installment in 2004.
“The state government should appoint an inquiry commission to find the reasons behind the delay in the implementation of the Supermarket project in Jowai,” NPP legislator ECB Bamon told reporters at the end of the first day of the winter session of Assembly. He had earlier raised the issue during question hour in the House, but the matter could not be taken up for discussion due to time constraint.
Bamon said he suspects the funds released for the project might have been misused by the JHADC. “It was recently reported that Rs 1.98 crore was withdrawn by the deputy chief executive member of the council from the money meant for the construction of the market,” he alleged.
The only work that has been accomplished at the project site is the dismantling of the old structures that used to be the market. The market has since been temporarily shifted to Lad Stadium despite the protestations of the vendors. “Though the dismantling of the old market has been completed, the government claims that the excavation work for laying the foundation has been completed and work on sub-structure is now in progress are not true,” Bamon said, adding: “The place has now been turned in a dumping place.”
New Roads: Minister of Public Works Department (Roads) H D R Lyngdoh on Tuesday informed the Assemly that a total of 79 new roads have been constructed across the state in the past five years. “Out of the 79, 15 new roads were constructed in West Khasi Hills district,” he said in reply to a query posed by the legislator H S Lyngdoh.
The minister said his department maintains a total of 8481.273 kilometers of roads in the state and his department has appointed 5156 muster-rolls workers.
Replying NPP legislator E C B Bamon’s query on upgrading the Nartiang-Jonglywit-Barato (NJB) Road in the Jaintia Hills district, Lyngdoh said that the government will take up the work depending on the availability of funds. He said the government had submitted an estimate to the North Easter Council (NEC) in 2011 for widening the road.
Bamon also drew the attention of the minister to the slow progress of bridge construction work over the Myntang river that leads to Myntang, Khadkasla and Psiar villages under disputed Block I area in the Jaintia Hills district. “I was there on November 20, the work is not progressing at all,” he said.
Governor House: GAD Minister AL Hek informed the House that the Governor House in Tura would be completed by April next year. In his reply to the query posed by Opposition Leader Conrad Sangma, Hek said the sanctioned amount for the construction of the Governor House was Rs 5.47 crores. “The structural works, plastering and flooring of the main Building have been completed,” he said.
Nongstoin Water Scheme: Public Health Engineering (PHE) minister Shitlang Pale informed the House that fund crunch was the reason behind the delay in executing the Nongstoin Urban Water Supply Scheme (NUWSS). He was replying to a question posed by HSPDP legislator HS Lyngdoh.
The foundation stone for the Rs 133.94 crores water project was laid on December 7, 2011. By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours