*Similar exercise to be initiated in Valley also
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 14: In a major exercise of its kind, the Government has ordered physical verification of recently executed and ongoing works in the jurisdiction of 24 Municipal Committees of the Jammu region. The drive which is based on the complaints of sub-standard works and violation of codal formalities would be completed by the end of current month with the submission of detailed report for necessary action.
Official sources in the Housing and Urban Development Department told EXCELSIOR that in the recent past senior officers of the department received some formal and informal complaints from different quarters about sub-standard works in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of some Municipal Committees of Jammu region as well as of Kashmir valley.
Some complaints were also pertaining to delay in execution of works and non-adherence to the codal formalities during the allotment and execution of works in order to confer undue benefits upon certain private persons and agencies, sources further said, adding keeping this in mind the Commissioner/ Secretary to the Government, Housing and Urban Development Department, Bipul Pathak decided to get conducted the detailed physical verification of works executed by the Municipal Committees, which come under the administrative control of Directorates of Urban Local Bodies of Kashmir and Jammu.
Today, the Commissioner/ Secretary issued an order No.07-HUD according sanction to the deputation of Qazi Firdous Ahmed and Satish Kumar Wali, who are functioning as Technical Officers in the Housing and Urban Development Department, for conducting detailed physical verification of works executed by Directorate of Urban Local Bodies Jammu in the jurisdiction of 24 Municipal Committees.
These Technical Officers would conduct physical verification of works executed/under execution in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of Municipal Committees of Akhnoor, Arnia, Bari Brahamana, Ghomanasan, Bishnah, Samba, Vijaypur, Parole (Nagri), Jourian, Khore, Ramnagar, R S Pura, Billawar, Poonch, Rajouri, Sunderbani, Surankote, Thannamandi, Kalakote, Basohli, Reasi, Nowshera, Lakhanpur and Kathua.
During the inspection, the Technical Officers would check the standard and quality of works, whether the works have been allotted after observing all the codal formalities such as e-tendering, whether the works executed/under execution are strictly as per the estimates, whether the works have not been executed earlier in last five years and whether the proper signage depicting the cost of work, year of execution etc have been installed at the site of execution.
“The Technical Officers would also see whether the same works, which are approved by the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies under current year works programme, have been executed, whether the quantum of works executed at site commensurate with the expenditure incurred on these works or allocation earmarked and whether the document such as M-book/work register have been maintained”, sources said.
They further said that Technical Officers would fix the responsibility for delay in execution of works. Moreover, they have been given powers to examine any other issue(s) which they may like to report in their findings.
“The inspections which are going to commence from tomorrow will be concluded within a period of next 15 days following which a detailed report will be submitted to the Commissioner/ Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department”, sources informed, adding the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies has been told explicitly to provide all relevant record pertaining to the works programme to the Technical Officers for holistic view and submission of comprehensive findings.
In response to a question, sources said, “it is for the first time in the recent history of the Housing and Urban Development Department that physical verification of the recently executed and ongoing works is being conducted through some experts”, adding “similar exercise would also be conducted in remaining Municipal Committees of the Jammu region following which drive would be initiated in the Kashmir valley from where numerous complaints have also been received”.
They further said that after analyzing the findings of the Technical Officers, the Housing and Urban Development Department would work out a mechanism for regular monitoring of works. Moreover, action would be taken against those officers and officials, who would be held responsible by the Technical Officers for allowing sub-standard work and violation of codal formalities besides failing to ensure timely completion of developmental works.
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