The Hindu 10.01.2011
‘Over 50 p.c. of BBMP works substandard’
More than 50 per cent of the works undertaken by the Bruhat Bangalore
Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) over the past three years are of substandard
quality, according to the palike’s Quality Control Cell.
Addressing presspersons here, Opposition Leader in the
Palike Council M. Nagaraj said that most of these works were taken up
during the Administrator’s period, when works totalling Rs. 8,162 crore
were executed. The BBMP had paid Rs. 4,000 crore to the contractors. The
civic authority still has pending bills amounting to Rs. 4,162 crore.
Alleging gross irregularities, he said that if more than
half of the works executed was of sub-standard quality, the BBMP had
lost out in the bargain. “Of the works amounting to Rs. 4,000 crore, if
50 per cent is sub-standard, then the BBMP has incurred a loss of Rs.
2,000 crore,” he said.
13 organisations as empanelled consultants to carry out third-party
checks. “These organisations are supposed to monitor the quality of
works. However, they are not keeping up with part of their bargain. This
is also causing a loss to the civic body.” Mr. Nagaraj said that since
the quality of works was sub-standard, the contractors who executed the
job must be made responsible for all issues arising out of the same for a
minimum of one year. The BBMP Commissioner must initiate action against
officials who have failed to monitor the quality of works while the
contractors must be blacklisted. “The CBI or the Lokayukta must look into the irregularities”.
