Talimoa Jamir
Mangkolemba
The repair and renovation of CHC Mangkolemba were sanctioned under Article 275(1) for the year 2021-2022 with an initial budget of ₹35 lakhs. After deducting ₹8 lakhs for furniture and equipment(to be provided separately by the Directorate of Tribal Affairs), the final budget stood at ₹27 lakhs. A work order amounting to ₹26,24,951 (inclusive of GST and price escalation) was issued on August 18, 2022, to M/s Zenith Enterprise, with a stipulated completion period of 24 months, i.e., by August 2024.
The Detailed Project Report (DPR) outlined essential renovation tasks, including replacing old CGI sheets with Dyna roofing and installing an ISI-marked coir veneer board ceiling. However, field verification, RTI responses, and documentation review reveal alarming discrepancies in the execution of work and financial management.
Despite a budget allocation of ₹3,72,988.14 specifically for ceiling installation, the work was never executed. The CHC had to independently source ₹4 lakhs to complete the ceiling installation, which should have been covered under the sanctioned budget. This blatant omission raises a critical question—why was the contractor paid for incomplete work?
An RTI application was filed to ascertain the project’s status, and the response stated that physical progress was 100% complete. However, ground verification contradicts this claim, as the ceiling work remains undone. Furthermore, no completion certificate was issued, and the remaining balance of ₹7,64,978 was not disbursed due to the firm’s failure to produce this certificate. Yet, the project is marked as ‘Completed’ in the RTI reply, raising concerns about intentional misreporting or oversight.
Financial irregularities further compound the issue. Two payments totalling ₹17,24,050 were made to M/s Zenith Enterprise in instalments of ₹7,66,263 and ₹9,57,787. The RTI response claims 77% financial progress (₹20,21,212), yet this figure does not align with the amount disbursed, creating a shortfall of ₹2,97,162. This discrepancy demands a thorough investigation into fund disbursement and financial reporting accuracy.
Beyond financial mismanagement, this situation exposes a breach of contract. The contractor failed to fulfil the mandated scope of work, and the absence of a completion certificate indicates a lack of proper verification before payments were made. The defect liability period of one year is irrelevant in this case, as the issue is not about defects but outright non-execution of work.
This raises fundamental questions: Why does the RTI response falsely claim full completion? Who authorized payments without ensuring verification? Where did the ₹3,72,988.14 allocated for the ceiling work go? Will the remaining ₹7,64,978 be withheld until the contractor fulfils their obligation? Should M/s Zenith Enterprise face penalties or blacklisting for this non-compliance?
The concerned department must act immediately to ensure transparency and accountability. First, a transparent investigation must be conducted into the misrepresentation of project completion. Second, the pending ₹7,64,978 should be withheld until the ceiling work is completed or a refund is issued. Third, an audit should verify the utilization of allocated funds. Fourth, the false information provided in the RTI response must be rectified to maintain public trust. Lastly, the authorities must ensure that M/s Zenith Enterprise is held accountable for failing to meet contractual obligations.
The work should be completed within 15 days from the date of publishing of this report/article, or else legal actions would be initiated against the firm, and the matter will be reported to the investigating authority.
Public funds are meant to serve the people, not be squandered through mismanagement and misreporting. The case of CHC Mangkolemba highlights the dire consequences of poor oversight, where incomplete work endangers the very lives that healthcare infrastructure is meant to protect. This is not just about financial discrepancies; it is about the fundamental failure to prioritize human lives over bureaucratic convenience. Authorities must take immediate corrective action, not only to resolve this specific case but also to prevent such lapses in the future. The public deserves nothing less than complete transparency and responsible governance.
