ES Reporter 

ITANAGAR, Jul 5: Alleging illegalities and sub-standard works in the Mirem-Mikong-Jonai (MMJ) road construction project, the Mirem-Mikong-Jonai Road Monitoring Committee (MMJRMC) has demanded immediate suspension of Executive Engineer PWD Pasighat Division, Bilat Sub-division AE and Junior Engineer.
Speaking to the media, President, MMJRMC Jacob Paron informed that the committee has also submitted a representation to the Chief Minister demanding suspension of the above officials. “These officials have flagrantly misused their power and position by encouraging illegal and sub-standard works during MMJ road construction by dumping huge boulders on the side of the existing road as sub-grade materials instead of soil, silt and sand,” the MMJRMC President alleged. There has been no construction of embankments, formation widths, earthworks and sub-grade layers which are mandatory as per the Detail Project Report (DPR) rules, he added. “Reiterating the importance of quality, the MMJRMC had appealed many a times to the concerned EE to inspect and monitor the quality of works as per DPR and technical specifications. But each time, he denied there are any illegal construction procedures or technical errors committed by the contractor,” Jacob said, adding that the EE himself instructed the illegal construction works.
Even after the project got the DPR approval, the concerned PWD officers continued to carry out the construction work illegally without following the laid-out process and technical specifications, the committee’s President stated, alleging further that an attempt was made by the contractor and the PWD department headed by the same EE to start the project without DPR (Design and Drawings) which was eventually stopped through a timely intervention from the MMJRMC in March last. However, the concerned EE defended himself, reasoning that the North East Road and Development Scheme (NERDS) had sanctioned 15 crores as the first installment out of the total project cost of Rs 42.27 crores along with the request to let him continue the project works without approval of the DPR in a general meeting, Paron informed.
“During the meeting, the EE repeatedly pleaded to let him continue the works and to withdraw the sanctioned amount for a time-bound completion of the project which would be de-sanctioned and deducted if not utilized before the relevant financial year,” the MMJRMC President detailed, adding that the committee had submitted a complaint letter to East Siang Deputy Commissioner seeking an intervention. 
A spot verification by a team headed by MLA 37 West Pasighat assembly constituency along with PWD EE, AE, JE and MMJRMC visited the site and issued instructions to the EE and PRO of the firm to re-classify the boulders dumped as sub-grade materials with immediate effect. However, even after the instructions, the EE continued with the irregularities which was corroborated through a new joint inspection conducted on July 2.
"Failing to address the demand will compel the committee to launch a phase-wise and indefinite democratic movement," the President said. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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