Sadiya villagers alleged fund misappropriation in construction of PMGSY road

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TINSUKIA: The Sadiya Subdivisional officer (Civil), Shymal Kshetra Gogoi has taken serious note of alleged irregularity in the construction of PMGSY road in Sadiya after villagers alleged swindling of fund following detection of sub-standard work in the 7-km long road connecting Maj Kochari Gaon and Tupchinga Gaon.

According to reports, the foundation stone of the proposed road to be constructed at the cost of Rs 7,82,99,853 was laid jointly by Pradhan Baruah, MP of Lakhimpur, and Bolin Chetia, MLA of Sadiya, on March 10, 2018. The contract was awarded to an Arunachal based firm. The road was supposed to be completed in April, 2020. The villagers alleged that not even 50 per cent of the work had been completed and more so, a newly-constructed culvert caved in recently in the middle of the road that created a big pothole. Alleging misappropriation of fund, the villagers told media persons that even the sanctioned amount was doctored with overlapping figures in roadside display which led to further confusion among the villagers. They even did not rule out involvement of departmental staff in embezzlement of fund. The villagers apprehended that the very first wave of flood of the season would render the road totally unusable. The Arunachal firm had given sub-contract to few local youths who allegedly used sub-standard and inferior materials, villagers alleged.

The SDO Sadiya, however, contended that due to lockdown and other factors, the work was delayed and all persons concerned had been asked to expedite the stipulated work.