Contractor, PWD officials accused of ‘siphoning’ crores without work Our Correspondent Kohima, Nov. 15 (EMN): About four villages under the Meluri sub-division of Phek district are demanding good roads amid accusations against the contractor and PWD officials of “fraudulently” withdrawing money for ‘unexecuted’ works and for violating the terms and conditions of the work orders. In a little over a decade-old road project that passes through Lephori, Matikhru, Kanjang, and Akhen, two work orders for road construction were issued by the chief engineer, PWD (R&B), Kohima, and were allotted to M/S Rhino Construction Agency in 2011. The projects were ‘Lephory to Molhe camp’ (26 km) and ‘Akhen to Star Lake’ (15 km). After three years, the EE, PWD (R&B), Phek division issued a ‘completion certificate’, on January 21, 2014, stating “the contractor has successfully completed the said work on stipulated time as mentioned in the aforesaid agreement”, referring to the second project, Lephori to Molhe Post. In 2020, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench with regard to the road projects. The PIL was filed by Kezuwete Wezah and three others (Ors) vs State of Nagaland and nine Ors; and the case is ongoing. In the...