Tribal Welfare Minister and Krishnapur MLA Bikash Debbarma on Sunday halted construction work on a major road project in his constituency after finding that the supervising engineer was absent from the site, sending a stern message to officials and contractors over accountability and quality in government-funded projects.
The Minister was passing through the Krishnapur area when he stopped to inspect the ongoing Rs 34-crore Teliamura–North Maharani GM Road project. Sidewall casting was underway at the time of his visit.
During the inspection, Debbarma reportedly found that the work was being carried out without the presence of the engineer responsible for supervising the construction. Expressing strong displeasure over the matter, he immediately directed the construction agency to suspend the casting work until the concerned engineer reached the site.
Debbarma made it clear that there would be no compromise on the quality of infrastructure projects being executed with public money. He stressed that proper technical supervision is essential at every stage of construction, particularly during important works such as casting.
“Without proper supervision, it is impossible to ensure standards. If construction is substandard, it is the common people who will suffer in the future,” the Minister said.
He cautioned contractors, engineers and officials against negligence and directed all those associated with the project to strictly follow the prescribed construction norms and quality parameters.
The Minister said roads and other public infrastructure are built for long-term use and therefore their durability must be ensured. Engineers, contractors and government officials have a collective responsibility to maintain quality and ensure that public funds are properly utilized, he added.
Debbarma was accompanied during the inspection by Khowai Zilla Parishad member Ranjit Sarkar, Krishnapur Mandal vice-president Gopal Das, secretary Madan Mohan Saha and BJP Khowai district committee secretary Nirmal Sarkar.
The Minister’s intervention has also drawn attention among local residents, with the incident triggering discussion over supervision and quality control in public construction projects.
Residents welcomed the surprise inspection, viewing the action as an important step towards ensuring accountability and preventing possible lapses in government-funded infrastructure works. The Minister’s directive also underscored the need for responsible officials to remain present during crucial stages of construction.
