JORHAT, Jan 8 - Majuli river island Deputy Commissioner Debaprasad Misra has directed the NHM (Assam) to temporarily halt construction work of the AYUSH hospital at Phulani area in Upper Majuli area and ordered an inquiry by the PWD to verify whether the work of the foundation of the proposed hospital building has been constructed as per specifications fixed in the design.
It may be mentioned here that the foundation-stone of the 50-bed AYUSH hospital in the Brahmaputra river island was laid by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who is an MLA and represents Majuli, on December 28, 2017.
A district administration source said that Misra in an order issued on Saturday has directed the PWD Assistant Executive Engineers (AEEs) of Roads and Buildings Divisions � Dipak Das and Anjan Baruah respectively � to carry out inspection at the site of construction and ascertain whether quality of work of the foundation structure was done according to the specifications fixed in the design of the building.
The source stated that the Deputy Commissioner has ordered suspension of construction work till inquiry by the PWD engineers (AEEs) was completed. Misra has asked the PWD AEEs to conduct the probe immediately and submit the report to him at the earliest.
It may be mentioned here that about six months back the Deputy Commissioner had ordered suspension of construction work of the project after a PWD inquiry instituted by Misra found several anomalies regarding the quality of construction work carried out by private contractors engaged by NHM (Assam)
The inquiry report pointed out severe violation of specification in the structural work of the foundation following which the Deputy Commissioner brought the same to the notice of the State NHM and Health Department authorities.
The source said that NHM authorities thereafter directed the contractors to carry out the necessary changes by reconstructing the foundation as per the specification fixed in the design of the building.
Misra told The Assam Tribune that he has ordered the PWD inquiry to verify whether the �necessary changes or corrections� in the foundation structure has been undertaken by the private party entrusted to construct the hospital building. �In public interest, I want to ensure that all necessary corrections/rectifications have been done by the concerned contractors so that safety of the public is not compromised with,� Misra clarified. He said that if the probe report states about carrying out of the necessary rectifications, then he will direct resumption of construction work.
