FIR to be filed against officials for poor road construction and protecting contractor

Raipur

An order has been issued to file a case against Executive Engineer B L Dhruv and three others for poor road construction and allegedly protecting the contractor in Bijapur. This is the same road for which journalist Mukesh Chandrakar was murdered after reporting on the substandard work. The contractor who built this road, Suresh Chandrakar, is the mastermind behind the murder.

Meanwhile, five PWD officials have been suspended for constructing a low-quality road on the Mova overbridge in Raipur. The contractor in Raipur has also been issued a notice. This action was taken after Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and PWD Minister Arun Saw expressed displeasure with the officials in Bijapur and Raipur who were involved in corruption. Investigations revealed negligence on the part of officials in both cities.

In Bijapur, contractor Suresh Chandrakar constructed a substandard road. The state government has found irregularities, corruption, collusion, misuse of government funds, and poor quality work by officials in the road construction. Therefore, the government has asked the Chief Engineer of Bastar Division, Jagdalpur, to file an FIR against the officials involved and inform the department.

Under the RRP-1 (LWE) scheme, a 54.40 km long road was to be constructed between Nelsonar-Kodoli-Mirtul-Gangalur in Bijapur. After media reports of irregularities, the government conducted an internal investigation. The investigation report revealed irregularities.

Therefore, orders have been issued to file an FIR under the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act against B.L. Dhruv, the former Executive Engineer in Bijapur, Sub-Divisional Officer R.K. Sinha, Assistant Engineer G.S. Kodopi, and their associates.

The Chief Engineers inspected the Nelsonar-Kodoli-Mirtul-Gangalur road on January 8 and 9 and found that the seal coat had peeled off at several places in 29.00 km to 32.00 km and 4.20 km in total. The slab thickness in the bridge approach was less. Quality guidelines were not followed in constructing the road and bridge sections. The department suspended Sub-Divisional Officer R.K. Sinha and Assistant Engineer G.S. Kodopi. A show-cause notice has also been issued to B.L. Dhruv, the in-charge Executive Engineer posted in Bijapur during the road construction.

Five officials in Raipur have been suspended. Minister Arun Saw had himself noticed the poor quality of repairs on the Mova overbridge. Five officials of this project have been suspended. The department found in its investigation that the average bitumen content, combined density, and material gradation were below standard. The officials did not pay attention to this and approved the work. Taking strict action, the department suspended Executive Engineer Vivek Shukla, Sub-Divisional Officer Roshan Kumar Sahu, Assistant Engineers Rajiv Mishra, Devvrat Yamraj, and Tanmay Gupta.

The poor work on the Mova overbridge was done by contractor Keshavdas R. Jadwani. A show-cause notice has also been issued to him. In the notice issued to the contractor, the department said that as soon as the traffic started after the asphalting of the overbridge, the gravel started coming out. This shows the negligence of the contractor. The contractor has been given 15 days to respond to the show-cause notice. Failure to do so may result in suspension of the license.