Dimapur District Congress Committee (DDCC) has demanded forensic audit, transparency, and investigation into the renovation of Town Hall here. DDCC has also set a deadline for action for the chief secretary– seven days for acknowledging the complaint, 15 days for constituting the forensic audit and investigation committee, and publish preliminary findings within 45 days.
In a representation to the chief secretary, DDCC president Kutoho Chishi and general secretary Kumjimong expressed grave concern over serious irregularities, financial ambiguities, and lack of transparency in execution of the ongoing “renovation and modernisation of Town Hall at Naga Shopping Arcade (NSA), Dimapur” at a cost of Rs 19.90 crore, necessitating immediate intervention to uphold public trust and accountability.
Referring to the reply they received following their Right to Information (RTI) application, they said critical project documents, including cost breakdowns and structural reports, were either missing or scanned illegibly, obstructing public scrutiny.
Suspecting cost escalation and financial discrepancies, they cited disbursement of Rs 16.13 crore (81% of funds) without proportionate physical progress or third-party validation. They said ambiguities in procurement costs for specialised items (e.g. HVAC, acoustics) hinted at inflated pricing.
They mentioned that there were also unjustified delays attributed to “redesigns” and “procurement issues” without penalising the contractor, M/s Chabou & Co, despite contractual obligations. Furthermore, citing the RTI reply, they pointed out that there was no finalised audit report, thereby raising concerns about mismanagement and potential misuse of public funds.
Under the circumstances, the duo demanded conducting a forensic audit by an independent agency to scrutinize all financial transactions, including contractor payments and procurement processes, and compliance with EPC contract terms and justification for delays/cost revisions; complete documentation ensuring all project documents (DPR, invoices, structural reports, vendor quotes) were made publicly accessible in legible formats under Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act; forming a joint investigation committee comprising representatives from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), technical experts (civil engineers, auditors) and DDCC office-bearers to ensure impartiality and public representation; and initiate action against officials/contractors for non-compliance, delays, or financial mismanagement.
Maintaining that the people of Nagaland deserved transparency in the use of their tax-funded projects, they hoped the chief secretary would prioritise the matter to restore faith in governance.