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What really happened to CHC Mangkolemba’s Rs 35 lakh renovation?

2025-02-17 | 03:11h

mokokchungtimes.com

RTI exposes false completion claims in CHC Mangkolemba renovation

An investigation into the repair and renovation of the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Mangkolemba has uncovered glaring discrepancies in financial management and project execution. Sanctioned under Article 275(1) for the year 2021-2022, the project had an initial budget of Rs 35 lakhs.

According to the RTI documents along with a detailed write-up received here, after deducting Rs 8 lakhs for furniture and equipment (to be provided separately by the Directorate of Tribal Affairs), the final budget stood at Rs 27 lakhs.

A work order worth Rs 26,24,951 (inclusive of GST and price escalation) was issued on August 18, 2022, to M/s Zenith Enterprise, with a stipulated completion period of 24 months, ending in August 2024.

The missing ceiling work & financial gaps
The Detailed Project Report (DPR) included essential renovations such as replacing old CGI sheets with Dyna roofing and installing an ISI-marked coir veneer board ceiling. However, field verification and RTI responses reveal that the ceiling work—allocated Rs 3,72,988.14 in the budget—was never executed.

“The CHC had to independently source Rs 4 lakhs to complete the ceiling installation,” the update stated, arguing that it should have been covered under the sanctioned budget. “This blatant omission raises a critical question—why was the contractor paid for incomplete work?” it asked.

An RTI application was filed to ascertain the project’s status, and the response stated that physical progress was 100% complete. “However, ground verification contradicts this claim, as the ceiling work remains undone,” it pointed out.

Furthermore, it mentioned that no completion certificate was issued, and the remaining balance of Rs 7,64,978 was not disbursed due to the firm’s failure to produce the certificate.

“Yet, the project is marked as ‘Completed’ in the RTI reply, raising concerns about intentional misreporting or oversight,” it continued.

Additionally, it added that financial irregularities further compound the issue.

“Two payments totaling Rs 17,24,050 were made to M/s Zenith Enterprise in installments of Rs 7,66,263 and Rs 9,57,787. The RTI response claims 77% financial progress (Rs 20,21,212), yet this figure does not align with the amount disbursed, creating a shortfall of Rs 2,97,162. This discrepancy demands a thorough investigation into fund disbursement and financial reporting accuracy,” it noted.

Breach of contract
Beyond financial mismanagement, it argued that the situation exposes a breach of contract. According to the update, the contractor failed to fulfill the mandated scope of work, and that the absence of a completion certificate indicates a lack of proper verification before payments were made.

“The defect liability period of one year is irrelevant in this case, as the issue is not about defects but outright non-execution of work,” it added.

The statement raised several key questions: Why does the RTI response falsely claim full completion? Who authorized payments without verification? Where is the Rs 3,72,988.14 allocated for the ceiling work? Will the remaining Rs 7,64,978 be withheld until the contractor fulfills their obligations? Should M/s Zenith Enterprise face penalties or blacklisting for non-compliance?

Call for investigation and accountability
The statement called for the concerned department to act immediately to ensure transparency and accountability.

“First, a transparent investigation must be conducted into the misrepresentation of project completion,” the statement read. “Second, the pending Rs 7,64,978 should be withheld until the ceiling work is completed or a refund is issued. Third, an audit should verify the utilization of allocated funds. Fourth, the false information provided in the RTI response must be rectified to maintain public trust. Lastly, the authorities must ensure that M/s Zenith Enterprise is held accountable for failing to meet contractual obligations.”

The statement stressed that public funds are meant to serve the people and not be squandered through mismanagement and misreporting. It further noted that the case of CHC Mangkolemba underscores the dangers of poor oversight, where incomplete work jeopardizes the health and safety of the very individuals the healthcare infrastructure is meant to protect.

“This is not just about financial discrepancies; it is about the fundamental failure to prioritize human lives over bureaucratic convenience,” the statement added, urging authorities to take immediate corrective action to resolve the case and prevent similar issues in the future.

A deadline has been set for the completion of the work within 15 days from the publication of this report. If the work is not finished within this timeframe, legal actions will be initiated against M/s Zenith Enterprise, and the matter will be reported to the investigating authority.