Estimate committee of the state assembly has done a wonderful job by making on the spot assessment of the work done by the Government officials. After exposure by a news paper the committee made surprise visit to the godown of the GAD. They had known the under hand dealing between the suppliers and officials of the department. Newly bought carpets were in the godown and the missing if any were those that had been used during the VVIPs’ visit to the state. That implies something wrong was done. Yesterday construction of the national highway road was inspected. Officials in charge of the road had trouble time in explaining to the members of the committee why they could not follow the rules and procedures laid down in the rule book in the up gradation of the highway roads. The members of the committee were very smart and they quizzed the engineers why earth work was done at the area where it was not necessary at all. This is a new phenomenon employed in the allocation of work order. No contractor is willing to take road development work unless earth work is added in the work order. The cut at various levels starting from SO up to the highest level plus extra cut for unknown elements empty contractors’ pocket. But a contract work is done to make some money. Poor contractors fume when they get the bill. Shameless officials demand heavy cut without knowing whether the contractors have made any gain. The estimate committee as it inspects the construction work and supply done by contractor should try to know whether the contractors had actually received payment for the work done. Under an ambitious project retaining walls at the major rivers of the state including Nambul River was done in the recent past. Nobody cares about the poor contractors, who mortgaged even the homestead land for taking up the construction work. Now they lament having joined the construction spree. They regret had they known the payment would not be prompt they would not have done the work. In future none will come out for doing retaining wall construction. They had tasted the pang caused by inhuman attitude shown by engineers. They do not want to suffer again. The poor contractors were made fools. They spent sleepless night supervising the work done by labours. At the end they have turned out to be the real losers. Sadder is the fact that the engineers at the time of making some payment ridicule them for not bringing bribe money. Estimate committee should inspect how these engineers are thriving like lion devouring helpless animals.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/inspection-must-cover-nature-of-payment/
