SWABI, June 24: The pace of substandard work on various development schemes in the area has increased manifold after contractors have been warned by the Communications and Works Department to complete their projects by the end of this month and in case of failure the sanctioned amount would lapse, information gathered by the correspondent revealed.

The current financial year will end on June 30, and in view of the limited time left the contractors were finishing their projects without giving importance to the quality of work.

It is learnt that the work is not being undertaken according to the laid down rules of construction. Substandard cement has been used with dry bricks, while gaps between bricks have also not been filled properly. Sewerage system has been ignored and most of the projects have been left incomplete.

Most of the contractors involved in the construction of schools have not got the clearance certificate from the school heads. However, the Communications and Works Department had approved their bills which was resented by the higher authorities of the Education Department.

A visit to the under-construction sites revealed that substandard materials have been used in all the projects. It is also said that the this kind of work is being done in collusion of corrupt officials of the Communication and Works department.

A contractor said on the condition of anonymity that despite the fact that various resolutions had been passed in the district council against the corrupt officials of C&W department, nothing had changed practically.

“None of the contractors expect that his bill will be approved without greasing the palms of C&W officials. In a bill of Rs100,000 the C&W officials demand Rs20,000 to Rs30,000 as commission,” he added.

The residents of different areas told this scribe that they had repeatedly complained about the poor quality of work but the officials failed to prevent it, as they were in league with contractors.

The contractor left work at the government middle school, Lalu Dheri half way through. Five days later, cracks appeared in the portion which was constructed only a few days ago.

A teacher at the school said the contractor had assured that he would also construct a boundary wall near toilets in the same budget. However, he left the project without fulfilling his promise, the teacher added.

In all the projects, the substandard bricks and in many cases pieces of bricks have been used and covered with sand to deceive the public.

It is learnt that most of the contractors had given their jobs either to relatives or brother of the district or tehsil councillors who indulged in the substandard construction.

In Naro Banda, a street was left incomplete by a contractor Javed who had not secured the contract licence from the department concerned but got it from a contractor.

The area people told Dawn that the contractor used pieces of bricks in the construction of street and all their complaints in this regard were brushed aside.