FAISALABAD: State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali is not happy at the district government which has changed the specifications of two road projects in his constituency worth of millions of rupees.

He expressed dissatisfaction over the quality of material used in the projects as well.

The district government had awarded the contract of two roads, 6.5km each, costing more than Rs100 million. However, changing the specification, it asked the contractors to complete roads without proper carpetting.

When Abid Sher Ali was informed about the matter, he expressed his displeasure at the approach of the district government and sent a letter (a copy available with Dawn), titled “Construction of Farooqabad Road to Ahmed Nagar and Malikhanwala Road to Elahi Abad” to District Coordination Officer Noorul Amen Mengal.

In his letter, the minister said, “I have visited the sites personally after the objections raised by the residents of the locality and found substandard material being used in the construction of the roads. I have also been informed that the tenders were issued for the construction of carpeted roads but the specifications have been changed without being brought to my notice. The TST method has been used in place of carpeted roads (asphalt plant method) at the sites.”

Abid Sher Ali further said, “The residents of the area are protesting and raising objections to the change of the specifications of carpeted roads. The matter seems to be very serious and requires proper inquiries and immediate action at your end.”

The TST is a cheap method of road construction in which asphalt is sprayed on the road through a tank, having hand-pump nozzle and it is very cheap as compared to carpeted road method that requires a costly asphalt plant, they say. The per square foot construction rate of carpeted road is about Rs90, however, the TST rate is about Rs50. The district government had refused to award contract of roads construction to the contractors who did not have asphalt plants.

PML-N MPA Tahir Jameel had reacted to the move of the district government and said the contracts had been given to blue-eyed contractors on the advice of former Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah. However, the minister had denied the allegation, saying the contracts had been awarded lawfully and the Chief Minister’s Inspection Team had also cleared the entire process.

Regarding the two road projects, he said it was mandatory for the firms to have Premax plants (asphalt plant) for quality construction. However, the contracts had been awarded to firms lacking such plants, he said, adding that the government could save million of rupees by awarding contracts through competition but firms were accommodated without competition.

An officer, requesting anonymity, said the contractors had to complete the construction work by June 30, however, major parts of roads were yet to be completed that would take months. He said the change of specifications would cost the national kitty dearly as the TST method would not be useful in the winter and the government would have to change the specifications again by increasing cost of both the projects with carpeted roads.

Following Abid Sher Ali’s letter, the DCO initiated an inquiry through the DO (planning) who sought report on the issue from the DO (roads).

Talking to Dawn, DO (roads) Mian Younus said he had received a letter from the DCO office for a reply, however, now the file was missing. My office had not changed the specifications, he clarified.

The DCO admitted that specifications were changed because of a sewage pumping station and drain along the road which was not there earlier.

He said it warranted Rs8 million funds in addition to its original cost. He said the minister had been explained the situation and he was satisfied now.

Published in Dawn, August 27th , 2014