A road constructed under PMGSY connecting Samulamlan sub-divisional headquarter to G Songgel village in Churachandpur district has been left unattended after the contractor concerned reportedly withdrew the sanctioned amount and remained at large.
The PMGSY road covering a distance of 13.83 kilometres across 40 villages, was sanctioned under package number MN03241 of 2018-2019 financial year, as per sources. The total sanctioned amount for construction and maintenance work was Rs 6,36,54,041, sources said.
The contractor had allegedly withdrawn a sum of Rs 3,50,75,004 out of the Rs 6,36,54,041 sanctioned amount. The department concerned reportedly had already released the sanctioned amount in four phases.
A sum of Rs 66,23,274 in the first phase; Rs 78,93,380 in the second phase; Rs 55,09,274 in the third phase and Rs 50,49,076 in the fourth phase was withdrawn by the contractor, sources said.
However, to the dismay of the local populace, the road remained incomplete even after three years of its sanctioning, leaving the local settlers to wonder as to why the road remained unattended even after this long year, when the road, a stretch of a short distance cannot be completed within a year.
A media team from the Churachandpur district visited the road on Sunday afternoon and found the road in deplorable condition. The total absence of bitumen along the road surface can be witnessed, making it impossible for vehicles to move throughout the season. The road was found covered by saplings and creepers.
Interacting with the local villagers, many expressed dissatisfaction over the alleged negligence of the contractors and urged the government for action against the erring contractors.
It is also learnt from a reliable source that the contractor Chirom Iboyaima had allegedly utilized another sub-contractor for the carrying out the road construction but he, however, withheld all the funds meant for the construction of the road and allegedly stored them in his own bank account, leaving the sub-contractor in a lurch.
The sub-contractor had done most of the earth leveling from his own pocket, which rather looked like an eyewash and left with no topping. The sub-contractor had also filed an RTI to the department concerned and is still to be responded to, sources said.
The local villagers along the road explained the hardship faced by the area due to non-completion of the work during monsoon season as the road remains usually waterlogged and muddy.
During the dry season, the road becomes dusty and poses health hazards for people living along the road, said chief John Gangte of L Kananphai village who requested the contractor and the government to help them.
