State works and housing (W&H) department through an office memorandum has informed that for all the civil works projects under the government of Nagaland executed by the public works department, all departments were required to obtain technical approval, administrative approval, and planning clearance before the implementation of any project.
W&H department also informed that the planning & coordination department vide its letter dated March 31, 2021 has set up competent authorities for the approvals of civil works projects before implementation such as projects below Rs. 3 crore—chief engineer concerned; projects between Rs. 3 to Rs.5 crore—HLTC & SPRMCC and projects of Rs. 5 crore and above—SLPIMC.
The scope of work for all projects is captured and frozen by those competent authorities during the approval stage before the tender and award of contracts. However, many departments have the tendency to change the scope of the work (Bill of Quantities) during the implementation of the projects without obtaining the approval of the competent authorities.
Further, department officials/senior dignitaries issue directions to site engineers and contractors at the site to alter, add, and/or remove specifications without obtaining prior approval from the competent authority.
W&H department stated that this practice was leading to unabated escalations in project costs, project delays, and jeopardizing the work ethics and careers of site engineers.
Therefore, all the departments have been advised to exercise necessary checks to capture the required scope of works at the beginning of the projects and to avoid changing the scope during or at the end of the projects without the approval of the empowered committees mentioned above as applicable.
If at any stage there was merit in a change in the scope of work, approval from the competent authority should compulsorily be obtained before directions are issued at the site, the department stated.