Nagaland Contractors and Suppliers Union (NCSU) has written to the Centre to allot work order to one firm and one work order during Phase III of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in Nagaland.
In a representation to the Union Minister of Rural Development, NCSU president Pele Khezhie and general secretary John Kath said they welcomed the implementation of PMGSY in the country since 2000-2001, claimed that the people of rural India greatly benefited during PMGSY Phase III.
However, NCSU expressed unhappiness at the state government, particularly PWD (Road & Bridges) on behalf of the Rural Development department, in floating 40 projects clustered into 16 packages only as most of the districts had been clubbed together with another district, which was practically not possible for any super contractors to complete work as per schedule. Rather, they cautioned that it would lead to a total failure of the PMGSY programme in Nagaland.
The union pointed out that in the past, tenders were invited as per project, adding that there were 19 packages in various district in 2017 and 19 firms were awarded work order as per merit, while 13 firms were awarded 13 work orders as per bidding.
However, NCSU alleged many anomalies in the PMGSY-III (batch-I 2023-2024 no. NGRRDA P-III/Tender/2023-2024 Kohima dated the 25th August 2023). In this connection, the union mentioned that it had sent a representation to the state minister on July 21, 2023 seeking breaking up 40 packages and allot work order to one firm/one work order in Nagaland.
Moreover, NCSU pointed out that the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA) had issued detailed guidelines for construction of minimum 15% of road length by using new technologies under PMGSY.
Accordingly, states and union territories would mandatorily construct roads under PMGSY-III by also using plastics waste within the minimum 15% of road length prescribed for new technologies as envisaged in the detailed guidelines issued by NRIDA. And works would be packaged so as to attract competent contractors with modern machinery and equipment and capable of nurturing small contractors. Meanwhile, PWD (R&B) invited PMGSY-III (batch-1 2023-2024 dated 25 August 2023) undermining the union’s representation.
Therefore, the duo said the NCSU sent another representation to PWD (R&B) chief engineer on September 6, 2023 to keep in abeyance PMGSY-III Batch-I 2023-2024, till rectification of anomalies were done. However, they alleged that there was no response from the chief engineer.
In view of this step motherly treatment to the genuine registered contractors in Nagaland, they appealed for justice and urged the Union Minister to intervene into the matter and take necessary action for the best interest of deserving registered contractors of Nagaland.