Shillong, June 21: The HYC has asked the state government to recall the order for distribution of “Corrugated Aluminium Roofing Sheet” to various C&RD Blocks in the state.
In letters addressed to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong and Housing Minister Marcuise Marak, the HYC leaders Roy Kupar Synrem and Rhembor G. Saibon said that they have received certain complaints on the quality of the ‘Aluminium Roofing Sheets” delivered to various C&RD Blocks and some of which have already been distributed to the beneficiaries in Khasi-Jaintia Hills. “We had conducted an enquiry on the matter and had also visited some C&RD Blocks to verify the complaints as to the quality of the supplied sheets. During our visit, we have learned about the sub-standard and low quality sheets that have been procured by the Directorate of Housing, Meghalaya, Shillong and delivered/supplied by the Supplier known as ‘Hariana Iron Works Pvt. Ltd, Kolkata, West Bengal’, which usually does not deal with manufacture or supply of roofing sheets as per their company’s profile.
“As per our knowledge and information, the Directorate of Housing had placed an order with the above-named Supplier for the supply of ‘Corrugated Aluminium Roofing Sheet in AA3105H18 Alloy of 8 Feet Length, 800MM Width & 0.45MM thickness’ as were the practice in earlier occasions also. The 0.45MM thickness is the standard thickness for a good quality sheet and which were distributed to the beneficiaries during the earlier occasions. But on enquiry conducted by us and as per the complaints received from various stakeholders, the thickness of the roofing sheets supplied by the above-named supplier is only about 0.25MM and is of the low standard quality and not fit for roofing of animal sheds let alone roofing of human houses”, the HYC said.
The demands of HYC below
- That, all the roofing sheets delivered by ‘Hariana Iron Works Pvt. Ltd, Kolkata, West Bengal’ to various C&RD Blocks in the State be recalled forthwith and their distribution be stopped;
- That, as the matter involved money spent from public exchequer, an enquiry be conducted as to the whole process of procurement and supply of sub-standard/low-quality sheets in contravention of the order placed by the Housing Department and necessary responsibility be fixed for the same;
- That, actions be taken against the Director, Directorate of Housing, Government of Meghalaya, Shillong (The Buyer) and/or any officer involved in the process of procurement of sub-standard materials;
- That, the Supplier namely ‘Hariana Iron Works Pvt. Ltd, Kolkata, West Bengal’ be blacklisted from any future engagement with the State of Meghalaya and necessary actions as per law be immediately taken for its act of commission or omission;
- That, actions be taken against the Block Development Officer(s) or any officer of the respective C&RD Blocks for accepting the consignment delivered by the Supplier to their possession without verifying the goods supplied;
- And/or any other action(s) as mandated by law for the time being in force.
“And if no immediate action is taken, then we will be forced to take other necessary steps to protest against these acts of omissions or commissions on the part of the government, the supplier and all other persons(s) as it involved misappropriation of public money, read scam”, the HYC said.
The HYC also wanted the government to appoint a nodal officer to carry-out the spot inspection/verification along with the HYC members as to the quality of the already supplied sheets to various C&RD Blocks in Khasi-Jaintia Hills.
