Arunachal Pradesh: Tawang local organisation alleges major corruption in construction of football turf

Amidst the heavy snowfall at Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, an alleged corruption scam has come to the fore in the construction of an artificial turf football ground. 

The Tawang Against Corruption (TAC), a local anti-corruption organisation in Tawang, has alleged that corruption is going on in the construction process of the artificial turf football ground at the Tawang High Altitude Stadium which is costing Rs 6 crore 41 lakhs. The TAC has alleged that the project, sanctioned by the State Infrastructure Development Funds (SIDF), has been awarded to a Pune-based company named Gallant Sports & Infra Private Limited. 

The TAC has alleged that the work for the project has been awarded to the Pune based company without issuing any tender which is illegal and is a violation of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) works manual and the Arunachal Pradesh District Entrepreneur Act 2015. 

Even surprising is the fact that the SIDF scheme list for the projects were released on January 9 where government has listed the project at serial number 345. However, work for the turf football ground had already begun about two months ago. 

Speaking on the matter, Thutan Nima, chairman of Tawang Against Corruption, said that work had begun at the football turf ground project without any issuing of tender about two months ago. 

"Recently, the SIDF had listed on January 9 that a football turf ground is to be constructed here. But the construction work has already begun about two months ago. Here at the ground we saw that there is no concerned supervisor or an official from the concerned department to look after the work," said Nima. 

This was followed by the TAC, on January 17, submitting a representation to the Deputy Commissioner Kanki Darang and an FIR was also lodged with the Superintendent of Police. This was then followed with an ultimate served to the DC on January 23 after no reply came in. The TAC threatened to hold a peaceful protest at the football turf ground on January 26 if no reply comes in by the evening of January 25. 

The TAC chairman Nima further said that a meeting was held with DC Kanki Darang on January 25 after the outfit threatened that they would hold a protest over the matter on Republic Day. As a result of the meeting, work at the football turf ground was halted by the authorities. 

"This work should take place under a tender process. However that did not happen and work was being carried on illegally here. Hence Team Tawang Against Corruption came to the spot and examined everything and then we shot off a letter. On January 25 evening, we had a meeting at the DC office following which the work was put on halt till the proper tendering process is completed," said the TAC chairman. 

The TAC has further demanded that once the proper tendering process is completed and awarding of work is done, a high level committee should be formed by the local authorities to monitor the progress of the work at the project. 

"Not just the football turf ground, but there are other projects in Tawang too where work has been done by funds have not been sanctioned and only been listed out. We at Tawang Against Corruption will work in that regard as well. We are demanding the football turf ground of Tawang should be done properly. This is a very cold place, temperatures go down a lot during winters. We are appealing to the DC and the PWD department that proper tendering and awarding of work should take place and after that a high level committee should be formed to monitor the work here," said Nima. 

While the DC could not be reached for comments on the issue, Tawang MLA Tsering Tashi dismissed any possibility of corruption and stated that work had be started early as it was the working season. 

"It was the working season, hence work was started. There is no question of corruption here as work is going on. The tender is just a normal process and will go on. The work was started with the consent of the government. The work was started since the working season was passing by," Tashi told India Today NE. 

On the question as to why a Pune based company was given the work for the project instead of a local enterprise, the Tawang MLA said that such work has never done before in the state and locals may not know the technical aspects about it. 

"It is a technical job. Later the FIFA authorities will certify it. This is the first time such a thing is taking place. Such work has never taken place in Arunachal," said Tashi to India Today NE.