Avinash Azad
Jammu, Aug 4: State Government's assurance to provide road connectivity to each village of state has proved a hoax, as after lapse of more than seven months of tendering, the construction work of culvert on road in remote area of district Rajouri is yet to be started.
According to documents in possession of Early Times tenders for said work were invited in January and allocations made in the same month for completion of the work within two months, but due to lackdaisical approach of department the work yet to be started.
"The construction of 3.0 M span RCC culvert in km 1st RD 650-675 on road from Ghalan to Thana the PWD(R&B) Division Nowshera on December 30, 2013 had floated tenders of work with an estimated cost of Rs 10.25 lacs and the tenders were declared on January 14, 2014, the work was to be complete within two months", he said.
According to department's guide lines for contractors who participated in the bid for said work, "The bid for the work shall remain open for acceptance for a period of 90 days from the date of opening of bids", guidelines read, adding that if any bidder/tenderer withdraws his bid/tender before said period or makes any modifications in the terms and conditions of the bid, the said earnest money shall stand forfeited.
Purportedly, nothing has been done by the concerned authorities, since the contractor has failed to execute the work even after lapse of seven months. "We are being assured for years that the road connectivity would be provided to us", Ram Prakash, a resident of Thana, adding that road work had started two years back, but due to political interference execution of culvert work was delayed. The local alleged that owing to nexus between department and contractor the work is not started.
When contacted, Chief Engineer, PWD (R&B), Mohd Hamid said that the work is being delayed due to non-availability of funds.. |
