Khuga culverts desecrated

S Singlianmang Guite

Lamka, Nov 8 : Two culverts built over the eastern Khuga Canal were destroyed by agitating contractors who have claimed responsibility for the Power House and Pump House arson late last month.

Khuga Dam Neglected Contractors’ Forum, a third one for pursuing contract bills, work for which was claimed executed several years back, said their action today was a follow-up of the Oct 24 Power House and 27th Oct Pump House attack.

Addressing the media at 5 in the evening, the forum members who said they were responsible for the destruction of two culverts in between Saidan and Tuithapi villages warned they would intensify their agitation unless they are called to the negotiating table.



‘‘Many of us are in the brink of losing our residence and lands as we could not repay our debts. But we won’t hesitate to lose our heads before we lose our lands,’’ the forum members said adding, ‘‘we are now a desperate lot ‘debt laden and angry.’’’

They maintained that they have been constrained to take up such course of action as they are desperate to get back their lost assets.

On being asked, the forum members said contractor associations coming up one after the other is evident as the leadership in the earlier ones usually sidelined the majority while negotiating with the Government. They also claimed that this forum was composed of all the neglected ones “by the other associations and by the Government.”

The contractors also raised strong objection against the alleged tendency of some officials to treat the district with reservation and questioned why their case has remained unsettled when the Government has released the bill of those even without the relevant work orders.