Opposition NPF has accused PDA government of diverting funds from ongoing road projects, instead of bringing additional fund from the Centre.
In a statement issued to the media on Thursday, NPF termed the state government’s assertion of bringing funds from the Centre to develop the State as hollow and devoid of any basis.
It alleged that the government had on March 14 decided to divert funds sanctioned by the previous DAN regime for maintenance and repair of roads in various parts of the State at the whims and fancies of Rio to benefit his areas and cronies.
NPF claimed that the previous government had accorded sanction for development, repair and maintenance of 17 road projects all over the State under Special Road Development Programme amounting to Rs 150 crore. These road projects included, among others, Naginimora-Tiru road, Zunheboto town road, Longtoker village-Tuensang road, Shamatore town road, drainage and road repair at Darogapathar (Dimapur), Thonoknyu-Waphur road (Noklak), Heningkunglwa-Kupunala road, construction of Niuland bridge/culvert and Peren-Tening-Nsong road. Most of these works had been completed and some were on the verge of being completed, it added.
The release, however, stated out that much to the chagrin of people and contractors, some of whom had volunteered to undertake work at the request of general public even without formal work orders since model code of conduct came into effect then, the PDA government had on March 14 revised the projects, while administrative approval for withdrawal of funds was reissued for other works like Circular Road at Sovima, road and drainage at Seluophe, repair and maintenance of road at Razhaphe, Circular Road at Phesama, EAC HQ road at Botsa, etc.
The party clarified that it was in no way against any developmental activity anywhere in the State and wholeheartedly welcomed the PDA government’s decision to develop areas where the chief minister has interests.
However, NPF regretted that instead of bringing additional funds from the Centre, the government of the day had stooped so low as to divert funds earmarked for projects, most of which had been completed and others were nearing completion.
According to the release, diversion of funds already sanctioned and approved and cleared by the departments of Planning and Finance for projects in various districts and concentration of these funds for projects in one or two districts was “totally unjustified, most despicable and in a very bad taste”.
NPF questioned if this was an indication that the PDA government considered that citizens of areas where the previous regime had initiated developmental works did not deserve change for the better and whether this was the much-touted change the coalition government talked about for the people of those areas.
In all “fairness, fair play and decency”, the PDA government should ensure that contractors of the completed projects, which were initiated by the DAN government, were paid in full without any delay, the party demanded.