Urban News

In June, the drainage department had sent a budget worth Rs 14 crore for repairing many sites in the district, but sanction came only for Rs 45 lakh to repair Madhepur, Dhulewal, Matterwara and Jamalpur sites. However, the money actually was released in mid July when the water level rose in the river.

Hence, the raw material purchased was either dumped in store house of drainage department or left in the open. Darshan Singh, executive engineer, drainage department said, “By the time, we purchased the raw material such as wire, stones etc the water level rose and hence repair works could not be carried out. Stones are lying in the open near the dam sites while wires are in our store houses.”

Once the level recedes, permanent measures will be taken on the above mentioned sites with the already purchased raw material, he added. As of now Rs 50 lakh has been received for taking temporary measures with sand bags on many sites of the city because work with stones and wire is not possible in raised level, he said.

Interestingly, no drainage official monitored as whether the stones purchased are lying near the site or not. The officials maintained that nothing has happened to the stones and who can steal them, said one junior engineer on the condition of anonymity. 

DC Rahul Tiwari when asked about the previous Rs 45 lakh said, “I have been told that the work has been done at two sites and rest sites could not be covered due to funds constraints.”

He added, “The demand was worth Rs 14 crore but government sanctioned a part for very urgent works.”

Hence ‘very urgent works’ were also not done while money went down the drain. Meanwhile, a total of 205 villages are on a strict vigil and the villagers are also on thikri pehras. Drainage officials have been deputed at various sites.