Dimapur, July 10 (MExN): The highways division of the Public Works Department (PWD) of the State has issued clarifications on the Central government’s reported investigation into dealings concerning “four roads” in Nagaland. Chief Engineer of the PWD’s highways division, Peter Solo, issued a press release today admitting that there were “deficiencies” which were “found” but “due to incomplete data.”
According to the department “the four roads” taken up under SARDP (NE) is the biggest road project in Nagaland and “is expected to set a benchmark for road standards in the State.” Interestingly, he said, it is “unfortunate that various aspects of its implementation” have come under scrutiny “of the Media.”
The PWD department admitted that the revised estimates “based on ground realities” have been submitted to the Government of India for consideration. The PWD also admitted that the original DPR was “found deficient due to incomplete data.” The deficiencies would be corrected and works taken up “as per national standards,” the chief engineer assured.
The department elaborated the ‘reasons’ behind the revision and escalation of costs. According to the PWD, the “earthwork quantity in the original DPR is only 15000 to 20000 cum per km” while after execution it worked out to an average of “120000 cum per/km mainly due to bench cutting which is mandatory for hill roads to check slides.”
In the original DPR, the chief engineer stated, the average height of cutting is 4-5 mts “whereas” in the field it is 25-30 mts.
The PWD explained – “In the original DPR, the existing road width is given as 5.5-6.5 mts but in the field it is generally 4-5 mts only. In original DPR, the Hume pipe provision is 3 Nos only whereas for 2-lane road standard it should be 5 Nos. At various locations, provision of protection works such as breast walls and retaining wall were not included at all in the original DPR.”
Solo said that the site has also been inspected “by experts deputed by the Government of India” and they have “expressed satisfaction at the quality of works.”
The department asserted that “any inquiry from any central agency is most welcome, so that all misgivings are resolved, and the project completed in the interest of the people of Nagaland.”
