Three women from the city have lodged a complaint to the Meghalaya Lokayukta urging for investigation by the CBI or Enforcement Directorate into the alleged substandard construction of Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) at Mawiong and Meghalaya Assembly building at Mawdiangdiang.
In a complaint to the State Lokayukta on June 10, Agnes Phibalari Duia, Basuklang N. Khongwar and Rosabadeishisha Sohkhlet said the substandard construction of ISBT resulted in water leakages and compromised the structural integrity of the building on May 13.
“The ISBT building has been exposed to be a threat to public safety since using the building may lead to serious mishaps that can happen anytime due to the apparent criminal negligence revealed in the construction of the said ISBT,” the three complainants said.
They also mentioned that the BJP central scheme monitoring committee under the leadership of Pynthorumkhrah MLA, A L Hek have gone for physical inspection of the ISBT building and found that the building was leaking profusely.
They also said that substandard construction has resulted in the collapse of the dome of Meghalaya Assembly building at Mawdiangdiang on May 23.
“The building has been exposed to be a threat to public safety since using the building may lead to serious mishaps that can happen anytime due to the apparent criminal negligence revealed in the construction of the said building,” they added.
The three women also referred to the report in news channel ‘U Sangot U Pyrta’ on May 26 that there has been negligence in the construction of the building that the body of a pillar also crumbles “which indicates compromise of the structural integrity of the construction which may be due to many factors including manipulation of the materials used and poor quality of workmanship”.
They also said that constructions of both the ISBT building and Assembly building were supervised by Ransom Sutnga, Executive Engineer, PWD (Buildings).
“These constructions of substandard nature raise the serious possibilities of organised corruption by the political incumbents and officers involved by the contractor and points to the possibilities of a nexus with higher levels of power within the Government of Meghalaya attracting charges of corruption and money laundering under the appropriate sections of law,” the three women said.
They also urged the Lokayukta to take urgent necessary action on the matter and to seriously consider a CBI and Enforcement Directorate enquiry “since the funds have been allocated by the Central government”.
