Avinash Azad
Jammu, June 17: Unholy nexus between few contractors and Engineers of PWD R&B Kalakot and Sunderbani divisions, is taking huge toll on state exchequer, as the department is allotting works to few influential contractors without inviting tenders.
Contractors told Early Times that presently two works with an outlay of several lacs were being executed without tendering in Kalakot. "Since we noticed that departmental works have been executed, we approached AEE, Kalakot and sought his intervention", the contractors told ET, adding that the matter was brought into notice of Tehsildar Kalakot, but things remained un-changed, hinting at deep rooted nexus.
"On June 13, 2014, Tehsildar Kalakot wrote to Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) Kalakot seeking necessary action over complaint of Contractors Association Kalakot, but four days after Tehsildar's order, works are still continuing", the contractors said, adding that disregarding Tehsildar's direction the erring Engineer refused to stop the works.
The Contractors Association Kalakot has too sought Chief Minister's intervention to save public exchequer. "In letter to Chief Minister, Minister for PWD (R&B), Division Commissioner Jammu, Chief Engineer PWD R&B Jammu and others, the association appraises that works on protection wall on nine kilometer road 500 to 600 (Kurl-Mogla via Keri Chabbar road) and protection wall on 21 kilometer road 900 to 1000 (Siot to Kalakot) are going on with tendering which is taking huge toll on state exchequer", the contractors wrote.
When contacted to AEE PWD R&B, Kalakot Mohd Qasim said that no such works were going in Kalakot. Denouncing his responsibility, the AEE said that Kalakot Bus stand falls under the Municipal Committee, might be the local body had executed the work. "I received a complaint of some contractors and personally visited town but I didn't found any work in town", the AEE, said, however, he didn't comment on another work which mentioned in complaint was being executed Kurl-Mogla via Keri Chabbar road.
Association comprising civil contractor Digpaul Sharma, Shakti Kumar, M Y Mugal, Sethi Parkash, Choudhary Fareed Hussain, Subash Chander and other asserted that works were going on and the AEE was trying to hush-up the matter. "Protection wall on 21 kilometer road 900 to 1000 (Siot to Kalakot) road is being maintained by PWD R&B and how Municipal Committee can execute any work?", the contractors questioned. |
