Shillong, May 24: Leader of Opposition Dr. Mukul Sangma on Tuesday said the companies and firms engaged in the construction of the new Assembly building should be considered as “respondents” pending the inquiry report by the third party into the recent collapse of the dome structure.
“Unless they are proven not guilty, we should always consider those whom the award of contracts has been given should be considered as respondents,” Dr. Sangma told reporters after the meeting of the High Powered Committee (HPC) chaired by Assembly Speaker here.
He added, “Even those who are associated with the designing etc. should also be considered as respondents. Even officers who were on the field, who are monitoring or supervising the work on a daily basis, also must be considered as respondents (in this case).”
Sangma further revealed that Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2018 had sought files pertaining to the M/s Design Associates, Noida which has been allotted with 20 projects amounting to Rs 3,755 crore and files pertaining M/s Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam Ltd (UPRNN Ltd) for the work of remodelling and face lift of ESI Model Hospital, Rajaji Nagar.
Both the companies were engaged by the Meghalaya government for construction of the new Assembly building.
The case was filed by the CBI against PC Chaturvedi, IAS (Retd), the then Director General of ESI Corporation and other unknown officials of ESOC for committing irregularities in awarding capital works, consultancy, sanction of funds without authority, failure to follow the transparency requirements and CVC guidelines in awarding contracts for architectural consultancy and construction work by ESI Corporation during 2007-2009.
Sangma said he was a little bit perturbed by this letter and said that as per the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines, there are clauses which indicated that any participants in the bid should have self-declaration against any instance of criminal cases pending against them, which in this case it is missing.
“Therefore, the manner in which we should further proceed in engaging a kind of inquiry which should be insulated from influence by these firms… in other words independent means completely independent,” he asserted.
The former chief minister said during the meeting, he has also insisted that the process of appointing the third party independent inquiry agency should be transparent and as per the CVC guidelines.
“As even if we appoint a third party independent agency for going into the details, we have to ensure they are also not picked and chosen by people who are required to be acting as respondents. Therefore, CVC guidelines and a process considered completely transparent must be followed,” he said.
Stating that there has been cost overrun in the implementation of the project, Dr. Sangma said, “We have to find out the reason that has led to this cost overrun. Therefore, I am saying the overall findings from a technical perspective will give us the kind of light of the whole episode leading to this kind of situation.”
Meanwhile, the Leader of Opposition also asked the state government to appoint an independent quality monitoring agency to monitor all ongoing major infrastructural projects in the state.
“With this unfortunate incident pertaining to the construction of the new Assembly building, we are perturbed by further inputs which are available for us pertaining to the implementation of the various important infrastructural projects wherein the quality of work has come to scrutiny before the public and before us,” he said.
“Therefore, it is necessary for all of us to ask the government to see that an independent quality monitoring agency, who will be appointed based on a transparent mode of awarding such responsibility including following CVC guidelines must be put in place,” he added.
According to him, people have started doubting the integrity of the people who are entrusted with the job of implementing such projects and this does not augur well for the future of the state.
