Chattisgarh minister digs up road scam

Chhattisgarh Rural Development Minister Amitesh Shukla’s surprise raids in Mahasaund and Raigarh districts did not surprise the officia...

Chhattisgarh Rural Development Minister Amitesh Shukla’s surprise raids in Mahasaund and Raigarh districts did not surprise the officials as much as the minister himself.

Shukla, who wanted to check two road projects after being told that rains had washed away the construction, found that the road width had been reduced by more than half the size sanctioned.

	No roadways corp now
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh has put the shutter down on state-owned MP Road Transport Corp. In a specially convened meeting Wednesday night, CM Ajit Jogi put his seal of approval on a Cabinet sub-committee report that recommended for scrapping of the corporation. Finance Minister Ram Chandra Singh Deo said: ‘‘A separate state road transport corporation is not a viable option for Chhattisgarh.” (ENS) Story continues below this ad

The quality of material being used for the PM’s rural road project was sub-standard and the work behind schedule.

Five officials, including two executive engineers, working in the Saraipali block of Mahasaund district and Saranggarh block of Raigarh were suspended and a probe ordered. The chief engineer was asked to serve a notice to the contractors and stop payments. ‘‘The irregularities could be throughout the state,’’ Shukla admitted.

The technical team which the minister called from Raipur after the raids confirmed that work was below standards. Asked about the suspensions, Shukla said: ‘‘How can one allow such irregularities and misuse of funds by officials?’’

The Chhattisgarh government received Rs 91 crore under the PM’s project in the first phase. The second phase now in progress has a budget of Rs 203 crore for a road length of 1,271 km. R.K. Khare, chief engineer, rural roads engineering, said the details of the work so far completed are being collected. He refused to confirm if the raid came after public complaints.

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Shukla said that ‘‘complaints have always been pouring in and he wanted to take suo-motu action’’.