Students' body urges SIC to file charge sheet in road scam

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The All East Kameng District Students' Union (AEKDSU) has appealed to the SIC to immediately file a charge sheet against the FIR lodged in connection to the Seppa-Chayangtajo NEC (81km) road scam and also to release a fresh tender for the extra fund allocated by the state government to complete the remaining stretch of the road.

SP (SIC) Anant Mital informed that the SIC has already filed a chargesheet regarding the Seppa-Chayangtajo NEC road scam.

Addressing the media at the press club here on Thursday, AEKDSU president ChakangYangda said the Chief Minister Pema Khandu as promised allocated Rs. 19.92 crore funds to complete the remaining stretch of the NEC road. Out of the total allocated fund, Rs. 12.92 crore was released for the completion of the remaining stretch of the Seppa-Chayangtajo road by the state government.

Surprisingly, the executing department has changed the scheme name to 'Restoration of flood damages on Seppa-Chayangtajo Road during 2017-2021' for a committed liability to be paid for 2017-2021 flood damages' and accordingly siphoned money. Actually, the fund was released with the title 'Construction & Improvement of Seppa-Chayangtajo road (81km)'.

"The fund allocated was purely for the completion of the remaining portion of the road which is around 16km. The union strongly believes that the siphoning of the public funds is not possible without the involvement of local MLA and officials of the PWD," he said, informing that the department has already released an amount of Rs. 3.41 crore from the total fund.

Hence, the union has lodged an FIR against local MLA HayengMangfi, Chief Engineer (Central Zone) HageBida, and the then AE (PWD Chayangtajo) Kumar Mangfi for alleged embezzlement, siphoning, and criminal conspiracy in the SIC.

Yangda said, if the principal contractor is not executing the work then the department should have conducted a fresh tender for the completion of the remaining stretch. The department never did it and has already released Rs 3.41 crore to some firms. The department on the advice of the local MLA without following work guidelines issued a work order to a local firm going beyond the contract agreement, he alleged.

"The firm was issued a work order that didn't fulfil the criteria of depositing security amount (BG). Rather, the firm is being paid on work order process,thereby violating the work guidelines," he said.

Meanwhile, AEKDSU general secretary PritomYangfo said that the case related to the Seppa-Chayangtajo road was a decade old. A couple of years ago, the union lodged an FIR in the SIC. Till today, the SIC has failed to file a chargesheet despite the arrest of a couple of officers. While few have been granted bail, few others have returned back to the office after arrest, he said. "This clearly indicates the SIC is negligent towards the case and is yet to file a chargesheet. Following the failure to address the union's demands, AEKDSU,left with no further option, will resort to democratic movement in the district," he added.

Also Read:   Seppa-Chayangtajo NEC road scam: Convict surrenders at Bomdila

Also Watch: