Controversies pertaining to utilisation of funds and quality of work of the Gurupriya bridge, which was inaugurated in Malkangiri district recently, seem to be mounting each passing day.
On Tuesday, the office of the Principal Accountant General (PAG) wrote to the Works Department seeking details on utilisaion of Rs 74 crore. It suspected that that the contractor of the project was given undue profits to the tune of Rs 74 crore.
While a budget of Rs 104.38 crore was allocated for the project in February 2014, the total estimate was increased to Rs 172.58 crore as the construction of the project was decided to be carried under Engineering and Procurement Construction (EPC) mode, which has been questioned by the PAG.
Meanwhile, Pradesh Congress President Niranjan Patnaik alleged that the State Government has always been changing terms and conditions and helping officers, contractors and ruling leaders to steal away public money.
BJP spokesperson Golaka Mohapatra raised a question on spending of a huge amount of money compared to the length of the bridge. “It is baffling and difficult to understand what kind of materials were used in the
construction of the bridge that it cost nearly Rs 20 lakh per metre. We demand a high-level probe into the issue.”
In response to a media query, Works Minister Prafulla Mallick said construction of Gurupriya Setu was a challenge for the State Government, which has been achieved. “I don’t know about the Principal Accountant General’s letter. I will certainly look into the matter when any allegation comes to my knowledge,” he said.