FAISALABAD, July 6: A huge amount of Rs8.5 million is going down the drain because of mismanagement and negligence of the Tehsil Municipal Administration (City), as the recently-constructed footpaths along the university and Jinnah Garden roads are being demolished.

Information gathered by this correspondent revealed that the TMA (City) had awarded a contract for the construction of footpaths on both sides of the two roads to an associate of City Tehsil Nazim Mumtaz Ali Cheema for over Rs8.5 million despite the fact that the task could be achieved by spending only Rs3 to Rs4 million.

The project was completed in March this year after which some NGOs filed complaints about use of poor quality material in the construction of footpaths, which soon developed cracks.

Sources told this correspondent that the contractor was aware of the expansion plan of these roads and he intentionally used poor quality material. The TMA had now handed over the road expansion project to the National Logistic Cell.

They claimed that the TMA higher-ups were also aware of the project and the contract had been awarded just to appropriate huge funds. The TMA had also auctioned the trees along these roads just for Rs0.6 million, though their actual price was estimated much higher.

Almost all the old trees have been uprooted. The footpaths along these main city roads would be spoiled for the expansion of roads, they added. Social circles have demanded that the chief minister should take notice of this action of the TMA officials and punish the wrongdoers.