Action against erring contractor hanging fire

LUDHIANA: While samples of water supplied by tubewells of municipal corporation (MC) are regularly failing tests, the civic body seems to be indifferent towards the grave situation. Under political pressure, its officers have failed to take action against the contractor undertaking chlorination at tubewells of the city despite the fact that several warnings have been issued to him for submission of details sought by MC officers.
After getting a number of complaints regarding poor chlorination, MC commissioner AK Sinha had asked the officer of operation and maintenance (O&M) branch to get the monthly details of chlorination of water from the contractor so that a proper check on chlorination of water could be undertaken.Acting accordingly, Manjeet Singh, executive engineer (XEN) of the O&M branch had, in a letter written to the contractor on October 21 last year, asked him to submit to them bills and information regarding chlorination within two days.
However, the contractor, who wields tremendous influence in political circles, had failed to furnish information sought by MC officers, following which, the XEN had warned him of disciplinary action. But even after that, the contractor failed to furnish details regarding chlorination. Irked by his dally-dallying tactics, the officer had, in turn, in a letter written to higher-ups, apprised them of the entire situation and sought their permission for initiating action against the erring contractor. Ironically, even after four months have elapsed since then, action against the contractor is hanging fire, apparently due to his political clout. As a result, residents continue to be supplied contaminated water.
Mahinder Pal Gupta, MC joint commissioner, said though earlier, he had been looking into the case, as the work pertaining to the branch has now been assigned to VK Puri, secretary of the civic body, he was dealing with the case now. On the other hand, Puri feigned ignorance, saying he had been posted to the branch a few days back.