Reacting to Yimchungrü Akherü Arih-Ako (YAA)’s 10-day ultimatum served on the PWD (R&B) chief engineer, the department Friday asked the YAA not to make allegations and serve ultimatum which was “not reasonable”.

The department also said that the question of misappropriation of funds in connection with Aghunato-Shamator road also did not arise.

In a statement, PWD (R&B) chief engineer clarified that the estimate for the 20 km Aghunato-Shamator road amounting to Rs. 1702.44 lakhs was submitted to the Ministry of DoNER based on Scheduled of Rates (SOR) 2005 (NEC/NH).
He stated that the sanction of Rs. 1597.30 lakhs was granted only in 2009 after the lapse of four years.

However in anticipation of the DoNER sanction, the first work order amounting to Rs. 1597.30 was issued during December 2007 based on SOR 2005, said the chief engineer.

By the time the sanction was received, the cost of materials/transportation charges had increase tremendously, said PWD (R&B) chief engineer.

Stating that the DPR was proposed for Rs. 1702.44 lakhs and the sanctioned amount was only Rs. 1597.30 lakhs, the chief engineer said that the was the need to “recast and update” the rates to SOR 2008 within the sanctioned amount.

He also stated that during the course of preparation of the working estimate, additional points were incorporated as per the site that was left out in the original DPR.

These include provision for side drain, improvement of the gradient of the road, requirement of diversion in three locations covering about two kilometers in total which need full formation cutting works which entailed extra costs.

Pointing out that the sanctioned cost could not cover the 20 km, the chief engineer also said that bituminous works could not be accommodated and works up to WBM stage was proposed for a total of 15 km only.

He said the modified work order was issued during April 2009 for an amount of Rs. 1565.98 lakhs based on SOR 2008 which superseded the earlier work order.

Based on the verification report of the committee set up by the government, the department had issued instructions to the contractor to complete the remaining portion up to WBM stage as per work order, he added.

The rejoinder also stated that in order to be realistic, five months’ time was given to the contractor enabling him to mobilize men and machines.