SHILLONG, July 08: The former Executive Engineer of the PWD(Buildings),Ransom Sutnga gave a clarification on the allegation against him based on an RTI revealed publicly by one pressure group recently about the hike in the price of tender called for the construction of the new Legislative Assembly, in which he also said that RTI is important and it is a right to get information but RTI should not be used to create misunderstanding because these information of not explained well can lead one astray.
Speaking with media persons today, he said that as per the job profile of the Executive Engineer, the contract price cannot be changed because the Executive Engineer is only tasked to oversee construction work within the Rs.6 lakhs limit.
Sutnga said this while clarifying on the RTI report received by the HYC, which has affected his reputation because he is the Engineer who has just recently retired from the Department and prior to his retirement he was incharge of the work in connection with the construction of the new Legislative Assembly in Mawdiangdiang.
He said that there are many regulations that needs to follow in order to change or to increase the price of tenders for which the accounts is prepared by the office of the EE and then sent to the office of the Chief Engineer for approval, and after that the CE sends it to the department concerned which is the Parliamentary Affairs, after that the Parliamentary Affairs presents it to the Departmental Sanctioning Committee. He further stated that after this the Parliamentary Affairs gives its approval and sends the same to the Planning Department which will then send it to the Finance Department and sends it for the needful to be done.
With regards to the demand to constitute an independent enquiry committee,Sutnga said that since the collapse of the dome he had already expressed that an independent enquiry committee on the incident should be formed. With regards to the construction of the Inter State Bus Terminus, he said the construction of the bus terminus is not under the supervision or being constructed by the PWD(Buildings).
The former EE further stated that these allegations that have arisen against may lead to misunderstandings and expressed that henceforth such allegations should not be there anymore, in which he said that if allegations continue he does not have an option but to take legal recourse.
On being queried about his individual clarification on the several allegations due to the collapse of the dome of the Legislative Assembly, Ransom Sutnga who intends to enter the political scene in the Assembly Election to be held next year from North Shillong, he said that since he will be contesting the election his supporters have urged him to give a clarification on the allegations so that the supporters are clear with regard to this aspect.
