The New Indian Express 03.02.2010
BBMP gets third party to monitor civic works
BANGALORE: In order to ensure quality and speedy implementation of the works undertaken by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the civic body has hired a third party at a cost of over Rs 4 crore.
However, the Palike has awarded this task to a firm belonging to CS Vishwanath, chairman of the state task force on quality assurance in public works.
Civil Aid Techno Clinic Pvt Limited has been chosen by the BBMP to monitor all projects undertaken by it in the city.
The firm, which has already been part of many government undertakings, will have wide powers.
It will be mandatory for the contractors to get a certificate of approval on bills for construction works, in order to get payments from the BBMP.
“We have hired their (the agency) services to improve the quality of the works, and if they fail to deliver or should something go wrong, they will be held accountable,” BBMP Commissioner Bharat Lal Meena told Express.
He said that Vishwanath was already a part of the task force looking into the quality of public works, and added that Civil Aid was chosen because of its good track record and market reputation.
“The individual and the institution is separate from each other,” he said.
When Express contacted Civil Aid, one of its directors, L N Prasad, said the government had chosen Vishwanath as task force head for his experience and integrity.
He added that his role as the head of the quality assurance task force would be entirely different from the post of the head of Civil Aid.
Civil Aid can make visits to the project locations to monitor construction progress and also check the quality of the materials used.
The agency, which will further its services to all projects costing over Rs 80 lakh, may not include smaller drains and other maintenance works.
BBMP officials said the agency will have the power to take samples and get them tested independently in their labs or in any of BBMP’s empanelled labs, in case of any suspected malpractice or usage of inferior materials.
Civil Aid would also submit reports on all project works by the fifth of every month.
