ES Reporter
YUPIA, Apr 17: The PRIs leaders along with public of Tigdo Village under Yupia, Papumpare District have levelled serious corruption charges upon the Chairman, Hydro Power Corporation Limited, Tungri Effa of allegedly trying to embezzle public money amounting to Rupees 2 crore sanctioned for construction of 3km road (approach road to Tigdo Secondary School) at Tigdo village along with retaining wall by submitting false work completion report to the Chief Engineer, Hydro Power department.
The alleged request letter without executing any visible work in the area has triggered anger among the villagers and owing to stiff opposition by locals and several complaints, the department of Hydro Power development has halted the payment.
In this connection, demanding immediate arrest of Effa and his ouster from the post of chairman, the concern villagers along with youth leaders, PRIs leaders, led by Tigdo Youth Association, President Gyamar Bharat hit the streets near DC office Yupia today and later garlanded an effigy of Effa with footwear and also raised slogans.
Armed with RTI documents, Bharat interacting with press reporters said that the chairman allegedly wrote a letter to Chief Engineer, Hydro Power department on March 14 last annexing fake photographs to release the amount citing the work is nearing completion and will be completed in March.
‘ No visible work was executed in the area and the condition of the road against which the fund was allocated remains in shambles despite huge expenditures as claimed by the Chairman in his request letter to release fund shot to the Chief Engineer,’ claimed Bharat.
Reportedly, when the locals approached the chairman to inquire about the delay in execution of work he failed to show any tangible output on the ground.
Citing that the present dilapidated condition of road itself speaks volumes, Bharat went on to add “Rupees 2 crore is a huge amount and if the chairman who claims to have spent such huge money for up-gradation of said approach road, then he should show us where is the solid carpeting and retaining wall.”
Alleging the official process was to eye wash authorities and befool the public to draw the bills, he also informed that the villagers registered an FIR against him at Doimukh Police Station but police failed to initiate any action.
Insinuating the involvement of others too, Bharat sought a high level committee to inspect the physical progress achieved on the ground and demanded that all the persons under the project should be held responsible and dealt with stern action so that the rural roads be completed in time and serve the purpose.
Earlier a tune of Rupees 2 crore was approved by the Planning department under revised estimate 2016-17 on March last for construction of 3km road (approach road to Tigdo Secondary School) at Tigdo village along with retaining wall to be executed through Department of Hydro Power development.
ITANAGAR: Meanwhile, Hydro Power Corporation Limited Chairman Tungri Effa denied the claims made by Yupia Youth Welfare Association and ASM terming it as baseless allegation and politically motivated with ulterior motive to tarnish his hard earned image.
In a statement, Effa clarified that Detail Project Report (DPR) of mentioned projects were prepared by Hydro Power Corporation Limited (HPCL) not by Hydro Power. “The hydro power department has clarified that they have nothing to do with mentioned projects,” Effa claimed.
“Based on the photographs submitted by the contractors (villagers), I had written to the authority for LOC since 80 percent of the works have been completed, there is nothing wrong in seeking for LOC,” he added. Effa further went on to claim, neither LOC has been issued nor amount has been withdrawn so there is no question of corruption.
On allegation that HPCL doesn’t have civil engineers, he retorted that many projects both big and smalls are executing under Corporation, we have enough civil engineers, how come they claim our department has no civil engineers, Effa said. He stated that there is no duplicity in the project. Effa also denied his involvement on alleged arson wherein Gyamar Bharat alleged his scorpio was set ablaze by him on 2 April 2017.