BAHAWALPUR: The new superintending engineer of public health engineering department on Thursday reprimanded field staff and contractor over technical flaws in the ongoing work on an underground sewerage scheme.

PHED SE Javed Akhtar carried out inspection of the site on Bund Road, along with scheme in charge Executive Engineer Baqir Gardezi after stakeholders raised the issue of alleged use of substandard material by the contractor in connivance with the department’s field staff and technical flaws in the work.

The SE checked the level of the sewerage pipes laid on the site and admonished the contractor, Idreas Rehmani, sub-engineer Muhammad Atshad and SDO Hafiz Riaz Ahmed Bhatti over technical flaws, warning them of strict action.

The residents of the Ganj Sharif, Mori Gate, Bund Road and some other localities gathered at the site on the SE’s arrival and protested what they called nexus of the contractor and the PHED field staff, resulting in substandard work and delay in completion of the scheme.

Some stakeholders led by an area resident Ilyas Zakir complained to the SE that the contractor constructed flawed manholes using substandard material.

At this, the SE ordered the contractor to demolish the flawed manholes and construct the same afresh.

He also noticed that the bricks being used were dry.

The Rs170 million scheme from Derawari Gate to Lal Bagh was approved by the Punjab government on the recommendation of MPA Dr Syed Waseam Akhtar.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2015

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