The Special Investigation Cell (SIC) on Monday arrested rural works department (RWD) executive engineer (EE) Yimo Geyi for his alleged involvement in malpractice in the construction of the Komsing-Sissen PMGSY road in Siang district. A complaint was lodged, alleging that officials of the Kaying and the Pangin RWD divisions, along with one M/s Ragiaku Enterprise, constructed the Komsing-Sissen PMGSY road without a DPR, and that all the funds for the work were drawn by the contractor without showing any visible progress at the worksite. This is not the first time that PMGSY road projects in the state have come under scrutiny. In recent years, several projects under the PMGSY have failed in the state.
One of the main reasons for the failure is cited to be rampant corruption. The percentage culture is ailing all the major projects of the state, including those under the PMGSY. Chief Minister Pema Khandu on several occasions has made clarion calls against the percentage culture. But it seems the situation has not changed much. Still now the percentage collection culture is prevalent in the state. This is leading to the failure of so many major infrastructure projects. The contractors often end up compromising the work quality due to this percentage culture. The state government will have to take more decisive action if it is serious about fighting the corrupt practice.