Gandhi Bagh: Person who got tender of ₹2.8 crore under AMRUT paid ₹16 lakh, whereas for 17 bighas APDL paid only 10 lakh, alleges Congress

September 10: For beautification of Gandhi Bagh, a sum of ₹ 3.30 crore has been sanctioned under Atal Mission Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) including ₹ 2.8 crore earmarked for beautification of the park. Surprisingly, the person who got the tender of ₹ 2.8 crore for the beautification of the park under this scheme had to deposit an amount of ₹ 16 lakh as a performance guarantee fee. Whereas, on the flip side, a private party (Assam Progressive Developers Limited-APDL) who has been handed over the park had to pay only a mearge amount of ₹ 10 lakh as a guarantee fee. This is indeed surprising! This was alleged by former MP & All India Mohila Congress President Sushmita Dev.

Ms. Dev was addressing newsmen in a press conference convened by the District Congress on Tuesday. She further said that the infighting among the BJP is now open before all. She said that the absence of Minister Parimal Suklabaidya and Silchar MLA Dilip Kumar Paul from the foundation stone laying ceremony by Urban Minister Pijush Hazarika speaks volume of the internal chaos prevalent in the BJP. She indirectly hinted that these two BJP leaders from Cachar also could not approve the project of Gandhi Bagh.The absence of Laya Madduri, Deputy Commissioner of Cachar during the foundation-laying ceremony was also highlighted.

Taking a dig at MP Rajdeep Roy, Sushmita Dev said that he is new in this arena of electoral politics and he probably is unaware of the huge scam going on in Silchar Municipal Board. Ms. Dev also criticised Urban Development Minister Pijush Hazarika for speaking on Gandhi Bagh without going through the bye-laws of Silchar Municipal Board (SMB). She said, “Ignoring the voice of concern of the people of Silchar, Hazarika laid the foundation stone of this project.”

Further, The Chairman of the Silchar Municipal Board was also criticised for concentrating all powers in his hands. It was pointed out that without showing any concern for the wishes and aspirations of the people of Silchar, the Chairman was favouring a particular builder for reasons best known to him.

Former Minister Ajit Singh, Ward Commissioner Atanu Bhattacharjee were among others present during the press meet.