Nagaland Contractors’ & Suppliers’ Union (NCSU) has demanded that the department of road and bridges immediately fulfil its claim of completing the PMGSY-III project works within the set period of 18 months and also install full depth reclamation (FDR) machines in all the 40 projects.
In a press release, NCSU president Pele Khezhie and general secretary John Kath said the union had objected to the implementation of PMGSY-III projects through FDR method and also demanded “one contractor one work” for execution of the 40 project works in the State.
NCSU said it even highlighted the difficulty of the State in using Reclamation machines as specified in NIT for PMGSY-III due to topography. In this regard, NCSU said it also submitted representation to the chief minister with copies attached to the concerned minister, chief secretary and the department on July 21, 2023.
However, Nagaland Contractors’ & Suppliers’ Union expressed disappointment with R&B department’s claim that it was possible to bring 25-40 tonne reclamation machine to implement the PMGSY-III projects.
The union said the department also clubbed 40 projects into 16 clusters and issued the work order on March 21, 2024 despite the request for one contractor, one work.
Accepting the assurance of the department that specifications of the work order would be adhered sincerely, the NCSU said it waited for the success of the projects.
After almost a year of the issue of work order, the NCSU said during its emergency general meeting held February 26, 2025 decided to inspect the work progress of 40 PMGSY-III projects carried out through the 16 clusters with FDR methodology.
The meeting was attended by its executive of head office, advisors, action committee and also officials of district units.
At the meeting, NCSU said its executives of the head office and district units were directed to carry out the inspections and submit report(s) by March 13, 2025.
As per reports of the physical verification of the projects, NCSU said it was found that despite the work order being issued on March 21, 2024, many of the works commenced only in December 2024 and January 2025.
Moreover, the union said the department’s claims that it was possible to bring the Reclamation machine for execution of the projects was apparently “eye wash” as there was no such machine at the project sites, except one in Rusoma village, Kohima district, which was also “sadly” unable to function because of the terrain area.
Further, NCSU said that due to the late commencement of the works, its completion was likely to be delayed as there was barely six months left.
In this regard, the NCSU said it was not against any of the contractor’s executing the work but only wanted successful implementation of the projects for the benefit of the villagers, the actual beneficiaries of PMGSY-III.
Therefore, NCSU demanded that the department immediately fulfil its claim of completing the works within the set period of 18 months and also install FDR machines in all the 40 projects as assured against its objections.
NCSU has also appealed to the department to follow the full norms of NIT towards the successful execution of the works. The union said it remained firm in its demand and declared not to remain a mute spectator if the department did not fulfil the laid criteria of NIT for 40 PMGSY-III projects in Nagaland.