Irregularities in laying roads: Corpn awaits officials’ explanation

Coimbatore: City corporation commissioner M Prathap has served show-cause notices on two assistant engineers and an assistant executive engineer in connection with the irregularities in laying roads with the Tamil Nadu Urban Road Infrastructure Fund (TURIF).TOI had on May 3 exposed the irregularities in a news report, forcing the city corporation to conduct an internal probe. While an administrative sanction was given to the city corporation to lay 17 roads in wards 38, 39, 40 and 44 at a cost of Rs1.82 crore in 2019-20, only nine roads were laid in the approved places. Residents of the areas, where roads were approved, said no roads were laid in their localities during the period.While officials claimed the remaining eight roads were laid in unapproved places, engineers with the municipal administration department have made a recommendation to check the claims, since the roads were in damaged state now, after an investigation. The corporation commissioner had earlier admitted that laying roads in unapproved areas without getting a deviation order was a serious violation.Prathap told TOI that notices were sent to the three engineering officials a week ago. “We are awaiting their explanation, for which they have been given 15 days. Appropriate action will be taken against them based on their replies.”While he refrained from naming the officials in question, he assured that strict action would be taken against the wrongdoers.