The Mizoram government has been asked to ban an Aizawl-based constructing agency after an engineering college failed to start its academic session within the targeted time because of unfinished and sub-standard work.

Sources the subject committee-II of the Assembly has suggested that the state government should not award further contracts and halt all work being undertaken by the Mizoram Technocrats (Private) Ltd for allegedly constructing the building of the Mizoram Engineering College with sub-standard quality.

The premier institution, located at Lunglei’s Pukpui locality in southern part of Mizoram, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 3, along with 10 professional colleges and 136 higher educational institutions across the country in a digital launch from Srinagar.

The institution was scheduled to begin its academic session from this year.

The subject committee, which conducted an inspection in May, said in its report that the college has not set eligibility criteria for admission nor have teachers been recruited.

It said classrooms, offices, hostels and auditorium are not fully furnished with basic amenities and no books, magazines and journals have been placed in the library.

As mentioned in the detailed project report (DPR), the institution will begin its first semester in civil engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering with 30 students in each category.

It is designed to cater to 360 students till the eighth semester. However, none of these have materialised, the report said.

The committee observed that the DPR was blindly prepared without a prior visit to the site before the final construction. It also said the state technical and higher secondary education department, which is the executing body, did not properly monitor the construction work.

The committee said the contractor has withdrawn 90 per cent of the security deposit. While some building blocks at the heart of the institution campus were constructed properly, some buildings on the peripheral area were poorly constructed, it added.

The report also mentioned that additional expenditure amounting to crores of rupees will be required to complete the approach road, water and power connection and other requirements.

The committee suggested action against those responsible for the poor construction and for the delay in the academic session.

The construction of the college began in April 2016 under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (Rusa), with an estimated cost of Rs 26 crore.

Mizoram Technocrats (Private) limited was awarded the contract. The construction was completed in November last year.