Technical sanction ignored, tenders floated at higher rate

LUDHIANA: The project of covering Ganda Nullah from Gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib to Shagun Palace has again stuck in controversy. For, bridges and road department had floated its tenders for Rs 22.37 crore, while its technical sanction was Rs 19.10 crore. When the matter came to the notice of municipal corporation commissioner AK Sinha, he asked officers to either write to the state government to make changes or float tenders again.
In a face-saving exercise, officers said before giving the technical sanction, the authorities did not check the labour rate and that the actual project rate was estimated to be much higher. They had floated the tenders in the first week of January. Sources said, "Officers have been told to get revised sanction from the state government. This is the reason why they have not allotted work to contractors."
Joint commissioner and in charge of bridges and road department MS Jaggi said they have informed the state government about the problems, and changes would come into effect soon.
The members of finance and contract committee had earlier asked the officers to bring changes in the design suggested by the consultants of IIT Roorkee. And now, officers in operation and maintenance department will study the project file and suggest other changes in design.
An officer said the main problem with the earlier design was that it would have failed to give any respite to the area residents, as during monsoon, the drain water would have entered their houses. "Though covering of the drain will check throwing of garbage in it, it will be difficult to clean it regularly," he added. Therefore, the officers have decided to construct manholes on the road after covering the drain, so that through these, the drain could be cleaned before the rainy season.