HYC alleges Directorate of Housing for procuring sub-standard roofing sheets

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 20, 2024

The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) on Thursday demanded that  recalling of all the roofing sheets delivered by a West Bengal based company to various C&RD Blocks in the State and stop their distribution.

In a letter to the chief minister Conrad K Sangma, HYC president Roykupar Synrem said an enquiry was conducted by the council and it was found that the Directorate of Housing, Meghalaya have procured sub-standard and low quality sheets delivered and 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, 800 MM Width & 0.45 MM thickness’ as were the practice in earlier occasions also. The 0.45 MM 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 0.25 MM and is of the low standard quality and not fit for roofing of animal sheds let alone roofing of human houses,” he said.

Synrem said that since the matter involved money spent from public exchequer, the HYC has demanded that 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.

He also demanded that actions should 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 adding that the Hariana Iron Works Pvt. Ltd, Kolkata, West Bengal’ should 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.

Synrem said that action should also 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 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”,” he stated.

Further, the HYC leader also urged the need to appoint a Nodal Officer to carry-out the spot inspection or verification of the quality of the already supplied sheets to various C&RD Blocks in Khasi-Jaintia Hills.