DIMAPUR, April 17 � The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has revealed that the Executive Engineer, Nagaland Public Works Department (Roads and Bridges), Dimapur made an excess payment of Rs 62 lakh to a contractor for unexecuted work.
The CAG in a report stated that in October 2007, the Chief Engineer, PWD (R&B) awarded the construction of the link road at Medziphema valley from Jharnapani National Highway-39 (now 29) to Khaibong Junction (6 km) under the Additional Central Assistance (ACA) to a contractor at an estimated cost of Rs 2.80 crore at the PWD schedule of rates.
The estimate envisaged construction of 45 hume pipe culverts and three RCC culverts at different locations. The work commenced in July, 2007 and was completed in November, 2008 and the initial payment of Rs 1.76 crore was released to the contractor.
However, the report pointed out that the scrutiny of records of the EE, PWD followed by a joint physical verification conducted by the audit along with the division officers revealed that only 20 hume pipe culverts were constructed by the contractor along the entire stretch of the link road. The remaining 25 hume pipe culverts costing Rs 62 lakh were not constructed though the other items of works were completed as per the DPR.
This has not only resulted in excess payment of Rs 62 lakh but also adversely affected the successful implementation of the project, the CAG said while stating that the matter was reported to the department and the Government in September, 2010 but their reply was not received till January, 2011.