Citizens seek Governor intervention
Arfat Khan
Jammu: There is open loot on the name of development in many wards of Jammu Municipal corporation. Interestingly, the way officials of JMC works department are sleeping over this free for all loot of contractors it seems they are least bothered about the seriousness of Governor Satya Pal Malik regarding zero tolerance for corruption and their masters.
To understand the quality of work alloted by JMC for renovation of footpath, pavements, lanes and drains in various wards of Jammu, JKGN team came across astounding facts.
Case 1: Smadiah Road (Creamtion ground road)- Interlocking tiles are laid down over mixture of sand along with gravels. There is no presence cement at this site which started from Hotel Rivera gate upto Gujjar Nagar rotary. Interestingly, the JMC alloted renovation of pavement without having physical assessment of the site. ” Major part of the pavement was absolutely intact and was in good condition” said a Mohsin a resident of Gujjar Nagar. Only a 100 metre portion of pavement adjoining car wash shops in smadian road was in dilapidated condition but strangely the JMC alloted unnecessary renovation of pavement measuring 2Km which is just a wasteful use of public exchequer, said a junior level officer of JMC preferring anonymity.
None of the official care to asses the quality of ongoing work and just made paper reports for release of payments to the contractors for the reasons best known to them, he added.
One of the resident of jogigate while pointing towards the work on pavement said” Where is the cement only JMC officers knows better”. This is a nexus between the corrupt element and crook contractors to loot public exchequer in a smart way, he complained adding this is not development but broad day loot of Sarkari Paisa.
Case 2 (Peerkhou Road): The long drain from DC office upto Jawant Ghuffa was constructed in a same way with the only difference that cement was used here but that too in a constrained way.
We have seen the work, the cement was just used for name same, complained a local resident of Peer Khou preffeerin anonymity. The Governor should take note of such fruitless renovations where lakhs of rupees are incurred as wasteful expenditure merely to oblige some blue eyed contractors, asserted another local resident adding this is big financial fraud on the name of development.
When contacted Ashok Kumar Gadoo , Joint Commissioner ( Work) JMC said ” Xen is supposed to look the quality of work before releasing payments but unable to clarify how a contractor openly laying tiles without cement and what was the exigency to ordered renovation of pavement which was still in intact condition.
(To be continued)