Baghmara, Sept 16: A multi-crore project initiated by the State Power Department to replace aging electrical alignment with a new network of posts and transmission lines spanning from Sibbari to Baghmara in South Garo Hills, which has been underway for several months, has raised serious questions about the quality of the work being executed.

The project, executed by a firm selected by the Power Department, has raised concerns due to substandard alignment works, marked by inadequate construction and erection of electrical posts in various locations along the Baghmara-Sibbari route.

Significantly, a number of electrical posts suffer from improperly set foundations lacking proper concrete reinforcement. Additionally, they have noticeable holes and gaps exposing the vulnerable foundations, raising concerns of potential collapse in the event of heavy rainfall.

Local villagers, situated along the project route, have voiced their dismay, alleging that the contractor and their team have been hastening the process without conducting thorough inspections, prioritizing speed over quality.

Residents are also puzzled by the decision to undertake the project during the monsoon season, a time notorious for heavy rains that often lead to soil erosion.

A senior official from the Power Department, who did not wish to be named, disclosed that this project is among several funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). He acknowledged that the relentless rain has indeed contributed to the erosion of soil around the posts. Given the time-bound nature of these projects, there may have been a need for expediency, he added.

However, there are allegations that officials from the Power Department have turned a blind eye to the evident shortcomings by failing to conduct rigorous inspections. This has raised concerns about the overall integrity and safety of the electrical alignment project, prompting calls for urgent intervention and rectification.

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