After the fake bill scam,the Building and Roadways department of the Municipal Corporation is once again in the thick of controversy. This time,the row is over the construction of the Ferozepur Road for which the MC paid nearly Rs 22.5 lakh extra to two contractors while settling the rates of bitumen used for road metalling. In an inquiry conducted by MC Joint Commissioner M S Jaggi following a complaint from one Kuldeep Singh Khaira from the Vigilant Citizen Forum,it was found that extra payment of Rs 22.5 lakh was made to the contractor. The complaint was filed on March 8. A road from the Jagraon bridge till Sidhwan Canal was built at a total cost of Rs 4.48 crore. The contract was given to the DM Constructions and Kabir Constructions. The probe report said,two grades of bitumen 60/70 and 80/100 were used for the construction,for which the basic rate fixed at the time of awarding the contract was Rs 25,507 and Rs 23,738,respectively. According to a clause in the contract,at the time of construction,the MC would have to pay the rate difference if the market rate was higher or deduct payment if it went down. Sources said once the construction started,prices of bitumen went down but still the payment was made at higher rates and MC shelled out Rs 22.5 lakh more. Sources confirmed that Jaggi submitted his report to the MC Commissioner to take further action. The department officials clarified they paid extra because there was an outstanding payment worth Rs 1 crore left with the contractors and the remaining Rs 22 lakh will be adjusted. Jaggi,meanwhile,refused to divulge the details of the inquiry. MC Commissioner A K Sinha said,I was out of town and have not read the report. Once I go through it,I can talk about possible action against employees and contractors. Meanwhile,the Vigilant Citizen Forum has demanded registration of FIR against the contractor and employees,besides the departmental action.
