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| It’s PWD versus PWD | | Charak orders probe amidst officials differing over cement quality | | Early Times Reporter
Rajouri | Oct 28
Works minister Gulchain Singh Charak has initiated an inquiry in to the poor quality cement being used by Public Works Department (PWD) in the state against the standing government norms. The usage of poor quality cement by the department came to light in the border region of the state, Rajouri and Poonch where the department uses PPC cement instead of OPC which has been approved by the government.
Giving details, sources said that following the reports that department had purchased lakhs of poor quality cement (PPC) bags for the government developmental works in the state against the standing norms under which the government had approved only OPC cement for the government works , Minister for works Gulchain Singh Charak convened the meeting of senior authorities of the department at his residence at Jammu on Sunday morning and asked the officials to clear their position on the issue. On being contacted, Minister for works Gulchain Singh Charak confirmed to this correspondent that the matter has come to his knowledge and he is investigating it.
Sources said, the Public Works Department have purchased lakhs of PPC cement bags being used in the government developmental works in the state while the government had approved only the usage of OPC cement which is rich in quality for the government works. The PPC cement, is not only poor in quality it also cheaper in cost and is prepared either at local level or in Punjab and Hamachel states while the OPC cement which is rich in quality is available in Gujrat and Rajisthan states only. “ Moreover, the OPC cement carries a mark reading ‘Not For Sale’ while PPC cement carries no such mark which can prevent any black marketer to sell it in the open market” said sources. The sources added that the departmental officials purchased this poor quality cement against a huge commission as both e cements have at least 50 rupees per bag difference in cost and in its addition the officials also saved the carriage charges which they had to pay for Gujrat and Rajisthan made cement (OPC)
When contacted Excutive Engineer R & B Rajouri division AK Darbari admitted that PPC cement was being used in his division saying that he can use both OPC and PPC. “Yes we can use both the cements and we are using PPC here” said Darbari. However, Superintendent Engineer PWD Rajouri Poonch circle , Abdul Hamid Shaikh contests the claim of his Executive Engineer and says that the government has approved only OPC cement not PPC. “As per the standing norms we can use only OPC cement. I don’t know how PPC is being used here”, said Shaikh.
Not only this, Joint Commissioner Jammu and Kashmir state, M M Sharma also says that the government has approved only the usage of the OPC cement and that can only be used for the government developmental works. He said, “As per the tenders invited for the cement government had approved only OPC and that can only be used”, said Sharma. It is pertinent to mention here that PWD store at Rajouri still possesses more than 1500 bags of PPC cement in addition to the already supplied to the works being executed in the district. Not only in Rajouri alone, the same cement is being used in the neighboring border district Poonch due to which various organizations have put question mark on the age of the buildings and the bridges being constructed with this cement. |
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