Hunphun Katamnao Long (HKL), Hunphun Village Authority and All Hunphun Tang Association (AHTA) on Wednesday visited and inspected the ongoing infrastructure development of Pettigrew College, Ukhrul. The two organisation halted the ongoing work alleging poor and faulty construction.
TFM Ukhrul Correspondent
Construction of Academic Block and Main Gate at Pettigrew College, Ukhrul was awarded to one Y Sunil Singh of Keishamthong Thangjam Leirak, Imphal West on December 4, 2021 by the Manipur Minorities And OBC Economic Development Society (MOBEDS), an autonomous body under the Department of MA/OBC & SC, Government of Manipur at an estimated cost of Rs 14, 98,15, 250/ (Fourteen Crore Ninety Eight Lakh Fifteen Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty). The work had to be completed within 18 months.
The Academic Block will consist of 9 rooms on the ground floor and 10 rooms on the first floor. It will have 2 lecture theatre rooms and 4 seminar halls. The building will have A Block, B Block and C Block (Southern) and B Block and C Block (Northern). .
President of HKL Ngaworpei Ragui said, “It has come to our knowledge that the ongoing construction of Academic Block is below the prescribed quality and standard and therefore we have stopped the work until the concern authority rectify the same.”
President of AHTA, Chonmi Raleng also informed that “the construction workers are using 20mm iron rod instead of 30mm. They have reduced the numbers of iron bars from 12 to 10 and is using low quality sand. On our joint inspection it is found out today that poor quality sand from the river are being used for the construction of Academic Block. The whole stretch from North and Southern Block is around 295 feet but it is being constructed at 286 feet only and the two wings with a stretch of 124 feet is being constructed at 118 feet only. There has been little reduction in the size.”
Hunphun Katamnao Long has directed that no further work should be carried forward until the responsible authority rectify the same. HKL also requested the contractor to put up hoardings of the Academic Block including the detail of the project.