JAMMU: Residents of city have raised serious concern over what they describe as substandard works undertaken by engineering wing of Jammu Municipal Corporation for repairing of lanes and drains in several wards.
If the works alloted as per allotment order and nomenclature are verified it comes out to be biggest scandal in JMC. Several works were not physically executed on ground whereas some of them are actually less executed than the allotment order.Let the allotment orders be published in public domain and public can also check the quality and quantity of work, says Reliable sources in JMC.
Terming the repairing of lanes and drains as open loot of public exchequer, the residents said that due to alleged prevailing engineers -contractors nexus, the authorities have turned nelson eyes towards the sub standard works and demanded a vigilance probe into all the works worth crores which were sanctioned for repairing of lanes and drains.
The engineering section of JMC is hub of corruption which have many skeletons in its cupboards, alleged one officer wishing anonymity.
The need of the hour is to constitute a committee to verify the quality of all works which are either completed in the last one year or going on, demanded Suresh Kumar, a resident of Karan Nagar.
Corruption is rampant in engineering wing of JMC but it never caught anybody attention for decades. It’s seems, those managing the affairs of engineering wing in JMC earned mastery in maintaining cordial liasoning with media, self styled public and RTI activists and above all photo savy councillors, avers renowned RTI activist Rajeshwar Singh Jamwal.
The residents said the JMC had allotted several works through tenders in last 2 years and sanctioned several crore for the construction of drains and lanes covering almost all wards. Most of these constructed drains lacks proper grading causing stagnation of water and thus resulting in breeding ground for stink and disease, complained Adarsh Sharma of Gandhi Nagar. Similarly, the tiles work in lanes are executed in poor manner which created depression spots in lanes due to sinking of tiles.
However, despite all these visible shortcomings, the work is being alloted to same contractor everytime which are familiar with the concerned councillors. For the last 2 years, a same person who is prodigious of councillor is executing all construction works in ward number 9 despite the fact that the quality of work is poor and warrants investigation.
It’s surprising to see the engineering wing of JMC approved the bills of contractors without testing the quality of works on grounds, complains Ajeet Singh of Mohalla Narania.
Similar concern were also raised by the residents of Rehari Mohalla and exchange road. Not only sub standard work, there are also allegations of discrimination in selection of areas for carrying development works. “The works are being sanctioned without proper survey by the engineers resulting in neglect of several pockets in wards which gives an impression that some councillors have adopted approach of likes and dislikes in development works”, alleged Ravinder Singh of Bahu Fort ward No 47. Highlighting deplorable condition of lains and drains in Qasim Nagar, the aggrieved residents said “The councillor is focused only on development of area surrounding her resident and adopted an approach of neglect towards other areas falling in her ward”.
Citing case of Sainik Colony, an aggrieved resident namely Rajinder Sharma said ” The JMC carried repairing of drains adjoining Sports Council play ground despite the fact that it required no repair. Merely for utilisation of funds, the drain was digged and plaster work was done to justify the release funds. This is an organised fraud on the name of development, he alleged.
Peter Gill, a resident of Prem Nagar, said, “The ongoing construction of drian executed by the contractor is of poor quality and was done without following the basic layout and technical specification for laying the drainage line in the area sans grading. Such substandard work is a waste of public money.
Expressing astonishment over the silence of councillors on sub standard civil work executed by contractors in their respective wards, the residents said “Their silence speaks volume about deep rooted nexus prevailing in JMC on the name of construction activities”.
Asserting that wide spread loot of funds is rampant in JMC on the name of sub standard development works, reliable sources said “The works department of JMC is a citadel of corrupt practices where the funds worth crores guzzles on the name of sub standard works in a jiffy. This all merrily flourished in JMC as part of a well established nexus, added JMC sources.
To ascertain the truth behind rampant allegations which came flying thick and fast against the works department of JMC, the JK Global News team visited a graveyard in Qasim Nagar where the contractor in connivance with engineers carried a repairing work merely as an eyewash exercise. The cost of the alloted work was Rs 5 lakhs sanctioned under capex budget but the work on ground was not at all more than one lakh.
When we try to enquire from the concerned AEE, he in turn leaked our contact number to the contractor who approached us and said ” Jenab yeh sab chalta hei….App btayein hum apkei liye kya kar saktei hein”
Despite our best efforts, the Joint Commissioner (Works) JMC couldn’t be contacted for his viewpoint on the issue.