A Dimapur based Naga contractor, Obed Sumi, says he has been left with a deficit of over ₹61 lakh after building the water treatment plant at Greater Bokajan. He alleges that the dues have not been paid despite repeated assurances.

Speaking to the media from the plant on Thursday, Sumi said his total expenditure on all the structures came to ₹1,08,55,972, against which he has received ₹47,40,000. This leaves a deficit of ₹61,15,972, according to him. He also alleged corruption in the matter.

Sumi said the structures he built include an underground clear water sump, an aerator and chemical house, a flush mixer, a hopper-bottom sedimentation tank, a rapid sand filter and a filter bed. The work also covered trips of boulder stone for PCC, designing for the aerator, painting, a mechanical expenditure statement and miscellaneous items.

The tender for the project was in the name of Swapna Terangpi, who gave him the work, he informed.

He said he took up the work in 2010 and that it went on in full swing till 2012. "But since 2013, I felt something was very wrong with the project, so I abandoned it," he said.

According to him, a team of engineers from the PHE department verbally assured him in 2016 that "not even a penny will be lost." He said he completed the project on that assurance, finishing the work by 2023, and that the plant is now in the public domain. "After completing the project, they have abandoned me," he said.

Sumi further stated that the underground clear water sump was under someone else's work order, but he was made to carry out the work.

In recent days, a video made by Sumi circulated on social media in Nagaland. It showed details of his work, the related papers at the plant, and his claim that he has not been paid.

Sumi said he submitted his grievances and all details to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). According to the papers he shared, the PMO in August 2024 wrote to the Joint Secretary to the Government of Assam, Hills Area Department, regarding his memorandum. The Joint Secretary then wrote to the Principal Secretary, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) for information and action. The Secretary, T&DD, KAAC, in turn wrote to the Additional Chief Engineer, PHE, KAAC, in July 2025, seeking a report on the Greater Bokajan water treatment plant and the actual bill amount pending against Sumi.

We tried to reach the office of the Additional Chief Engineer(PHE) in Diphu for comments. No one was available at the time of filing this report.