Dhar: None to question poor quality of 200 gravel roads in Badnawar tehsil as contractors enjoy political patronage

Dhar: None to question poor quality of 200 gravel roads in Badnawar tehsil as contractors enjoy political patronage

Nita Singh Rajpurohit, chairman of construction committee of Janpad Panchayat, said no meeting of construction committee took place in last two years and no information was given to committee members as to when and to whom the contract for construction works has been given.

FP News ServiceUpdated: Sunday, June 20, 2021, 05:08 PM IST
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Gravel road in Kanwas village |

Badnawar (Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh): For all the construction works under MGNREGA and as per guidelines laid by the Government of India, there is a provision to maintain 60:40 wage-material ratio.

But Rural Engineering Services (RES) department and local companies engaged in construction of about 200 gravel roads seem to be making mockery of guidelines here.

According to information, local contractors instead of maintaining prescribed wage -material ration, are spending 70 per cent of total money on materials and remaining 30 per cent on wages. This is happening right under the nose of local RES department officials as they remain mute spectators to the act.

The construction cost of these roads is about Rs 75 crore to 100 crore. Worse, local contractors are not taking care of quality. Many locals claimed that contractor enjoys political backing and that’s why officials are unable to question him on quality of work.

According to information, 132 gravel roads were approved in 2020-21 financial year. In 2021-22, the number increased to 200 gravel roads in Badnawar tehsil alone.

Besides poor quality, incomplete construction is causing problems to villagers during monsoon season as the roads become muddy. The cost of 4-kilometre road in Majre Undwa Pada of Multhan Gram Panchayat is Rs 2 crore whose work has not been done according to prescribed criteria.

Similarly, the 1.6 kilometre-long road between Kanwas middle school and Mangalgarh Square road in Kanwas village has been left incomplete after spending Rs 26 lakh on it.

Situation is more or less same in most panchayats of Badnawar tehsil. Sarpanchs wishing anonymity said that if quality of gravel roads is investigated by a reliable agency, a huge scam will unfold.

Nita Singh Rajpurohit, chairman of construction committee of Janpad Panchayat, said no meeting of construction committee took place in last two years and no information was given to committee members as to when and to whom the contract for the construction works has been given.

When contacted, RES department sub-divisional officer Rajesh Parmar evaded reply. All he said was that some of the approved roads have been built, some work is in progress while remaining work will start after monsoon.

Executive engineer of RES department Sanjay Solanki said gravel road work is on in Badnawar area, a provision of 70% has been kept for material and 30% for wages.

“We change the ratio keeping transportation of material cost in mind. As far as the quality is concerned, we will see that the work is evaluated by officers posted in Badnawar,” he added.

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