Assam: Farmers’ body alleges bitumen scam in construction of national highways

NAGAON: A few construction companies engaged in construction work of the four-lane National Highway from Nagaon Uriagaon bypass Chariali towards Tezpur allegedly flouted the strict directives as well as other guidelines of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, and used bitumen being procured from local open market instead of procuring from oil refineries. As a result, the under construction four-lane road developed cracks in several areas after completion of the construction of the four-lane road from Nagaon Uriagaon bypass Chariali towards Tezpur here.

Krishak Shramik Unnayan Parishad, a leading state farmers’ organization, submitted a memorandum in this regard to Nagaon District Commissioner here on Saturday and also sought a high-level probe into the entire issue. In the memorandum signed by Utpal Boruah, the state secretary of the organization, it stated that the contractors as well as construction companies of the four-lane National Highway from Nagaon Uriagaon bypass Chariali towards Tezpur allegedly managed a few officials of the department concerned through unfair means and procured low quality bitumen at less price from local open market instead of procuring from oil refineries in the State or West Bengal due to which the under construction four lane road developed cracks at various places within 3-4 months after construction from Nagaon Uriagaon bypass Chariali towards Tezpur.

The organization claimed that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India through a notification dated August 24, 2018, vide no NH 35072/05/2018 directed to the chief secretaries, principal secretaries, chief engineers, public works departments of all states and union territories of India dealing with national highways or other centrally sponsored schemes, chairman, National Highway Authority of India and managing director of National Highway Infrastructure Development Limited to procure quality and modified bitumen only from oil refineries to construct national highways across the country.

But many construction companies of national highways across the State allegedly flouted the strict directives of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India and used low-quality bitumen procured from local open market which caused major concern over the quality as well as validity of the roads. Doing so, many construction companies allegedly siphoned off the government fund allocated for national highways across the State, the organization alleged further. Hence, the farmers’ organization urged the District Commissioner to probe into the issue and also make a cross-check into the invoice submitted to the department concerned for procurement of bitumen as early as possible and initiate lawful action against the construction companies involved in the scandal.

Also Read: Assam: Niranjan Malakar accused of killing 11-day-old daughter arrested

Also Watch: