IT News
Imphal, July 15:
Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee today said that statements made by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister of Manipur on the occasion of the inauguration of Makru Bridge as contradictory.
Spokesperson of the MPCC Ningombam Bhupenda Meitei briefing the press said that the Union Minister’s public statements were against the Chief Minister on the question of slow speed in the progress of work, maintenance of quality standards, desire for honesty in work and remarks on leadership, have been consistently raised by the Congress for the betterment of the state’s infrastructural developments in terms of roads and highways. He said that the Congress party takes serious note of the Union Minister’s statements on the Chief Minister.
Analyzing the speech of the Union Minister, the Congress Spokesperson said that the Union Minister said that there was no dearth of money in his Ministry for the development of the state. But, he laid the foundation of 16 NH (National Highways) Projects worth Rs. 4,184 cr. for a total length of 298 km, which is Rs. 14.04 cr. per km, recently, whereas his own Ministry, as per Para 5.5 in the Annual Report of 2021 of the Ministry, awarded Rs. 2,939 cr. for 181 km, which is Rs. 16.23 cr. per km in the state.
Bhupenda further asked why did the Union Minister lay the foundation of 16 NH projects at Rs. 2.19 cr. less for every kilometer of highways than what his own Ministry awarded years back in the same state if there were no dearth of money in the Ministry in July 2021?
He further said, “the Union Minister stated that the projects worth Rs. 5000 cr. have been sanctioned for the state. As per the Report of NHIDCL, a fully owned company of the Ministry, as of 31.05.2021, under Original Works, Preparation of DPR (Detailed Project Report) has a cost of Rs. 18,331 cr. for 1422 km for Manipur.
So, why did the Union Minister, if there was no dearth of money in his Ministry, sanctioned only Rs. 5000 cr. when Rs. 18,331 cr. has been already prepared in DPR for the state? Should sanctioning Rs. 5000 cr. in place of Rs. 18,331 cr. be considered a sign of having no ‘money issue’ in the Ministry, Bhupenda asked.
In connection with the expansion of Highways in the state, he said that it would be recommended under the Bharatmala Phase – II. But, the fact is under Bharatmala Phase – I, already Rs. 10,030 cr. for 736 km for Manipur has been prepared as DPR, as per the Ministry’s NHIDCL Report, as of 31.05.2021. The Union Minister talks about recommending projects from the state under Bharatmala Phase – II, it is expected from his Ministry to state on the status of Rs. 10,030 cr. for 736 km under Bharatmala Phase – I. How many crores of rupees has Manipur received under Bharatmala Phase – I? When will Rs. 10,030 cr. be sanctioned for the state under the Bharatmala Phase – I, which is expected to be ended by 2022? How many crores will the Ministry plan to sanction for Manipur under Bharatmala Phase – II, which is expected to be ended by 2024?
In connection with the speech regarding the Green Highways (Plantation, Transportation, Beautification & Maintenance) Policy, 2015, Bhupenda said that it mentions that 1% of the total project cost of all highway projects will be kept aside for the highway plantation and its maintenance, which will generate employment, and every planted tree will be counted and auditing will be done, using ISRO’s Bhuvan and GAGAN Satellite systems.
As per the Ministry’s NHIDCL Report, as of 31.05.2021, for Manipur, Ongoing Works under Original Works has a cost of Rs. 8203 cr. for 864 km, he added.
He further said that as per 1% policy for Green Highways Policy under the Ministry, has at least Rs. 82 cr. (1% of Rs. 8203 cr.) been used to plant trees and provide local employment along highways in Manipur? How many crores have been utilized under the Green Highways Policy in the state? Has auditing of planted trees been done with ISRO & GAGAN Satellite systems in Manipur, the Congress spokesperson said and further added that the Union Minister, the Prime Minister is giving highest priority to Manipur and the North East as per their statement.
The MPCC spokesperson said if the Prime Minister is giving the highest priority to Manipur, then why is the Prime Minister allowing a decreasing value of the fund for highways, with a difference of around Rs. 2 cr. for every kilometer for highways from that of previous years, which is a compromising sign on quality standards maintenance of highways in the state?
If the Prime Minister is giving the highest priority to Manipur, then why is the Prime Minister not talking about solving climate change issues in the state by strictly ensuring the auditing of planted trees as per the 1% Green Highways Policy since 2014?
The Congress spokesperson urged to spell out the actual length of the Makru bridge built and inaugurated. He said as per the Union Ministry’s status report, as of 30.06.2021, the total length of Makru and Barak bridges is 2 km, at a sanctioned cost of Rs. 141 cr., which was awarded on 02-12-2016. But, as per newspaper’s reports, the length of Makru bridge is around 124 metres while that of Barak bridge is around 154 meters. So, the total length of Makru & Barak bridges, as per the newspapers, would be around 278 metres, which is 13.9 % of the total length mentioned in the Ministry’s status report on the details of the project as per the contract.
On Chief Minister’s recent statement on completion of Barak bridge & Irang bridge, Bhupenda raise the following points-
“As per the newspaper reports on the statement of the Chief Minister of Manipur, the completion of Barak bridge would be done by September 2021. But, considering the speed, which is at 70.40% in cumulative physical progress, of the projects of Makru & Barak bridges, as per the Ministry’s status report, as on 30.06.2021, the completion of Barak bridge would take around 1 year and 9 months from July 2021 for its completion.
“As per the newspaper reports on the statement of the Chief Minister, the completion of Irang bridge would be done by December 2021. But, the contractor, as per the Ministry’s status report, mentions that the date of completion would be 11.01.2023 for the Irang bridge, which is 4 lane bridge with 0.377 km of length, as per the contract.”
He asked, “Who will build the Irang bridge – the Chief Minister or the Contractor? If the bridge is completed before time as per the contract, then who will be held responsible if the quality standards turn out to be compromised in the future? How can the quality standards of the bridge be not compromised when the bridge, with physical progress of 2.94%, as per the Ministry’s status report, be made to be completed within 6 months?”
