UT Adviser gives Rs 32 cr as season nears end

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 5

At the fag end of the road recarpeting season, UT Adviser Manoj Parida today alloted Rs 32 crore for the roadwork.

Parida, who visited the Municipal Corporation (MC) office today, was presented a road status report by Mayor Rajesh Kalia and Municipal Commissioner KK Yadav following which he gave a go-ahead for the Rs 32 crore job.

As cold condition is going to increase further it will not be a conducive weather for the road recarpeting work. Thus, the work is likely to stop in mid-December and then start in March.

“We will try to find a way and get it done on critical roads or wherever possible,” reasoned Parida while Yadav added, “We will consult National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research in this regard to find out if there is some technique available through which we can continue recarpeting work in winter too.”

At present, Rs 17-crore work for 151 km stretch is going on whose deadline is December 15. The roadwork of Rs 32 crore for 271 km stretch, including 94 roads, has already been allotted to contractors and its estimate is also ready. It is the due job of 2017-18 and 2018-19. However, the work could not be started for want of funds.

Though Parida has finally ordered to allot the roadwork, it is unlikely to show any results for now as the temperature generally hovers between 10°C to 15°C. Contractors will stop work as the weather is not considered favourable for roads.

On giving late approval, the UT Adviser reasoned, “There were no funds available. When we got indication regarding funds from the Centre, we allotted work.”

The UT Adviser also gave approval for the pending Rs 56 lakh roadwork of 2018-19, which could have been deferred. Also another Rs 31 crore will be spent on critical roads due for recarpeting in 2019-20 and 2020-21 while Rs 16 crore will be used for the same period road recarpeting, which will be taken up at a later stage.

We can give what we get, says Parida

When asked about the Municipal Corporation not given appropriate funds by the UT Administration, the Adviser said it depended on the Centre Government. “The UT Administration is dependent on the Indian Government. Whatever funds we get, we can give according to that only,” he replied. He also ruled out taking over road recarpeting work in the city. On taxes, he said the Municipal Corporation was an elected body. It is upto the civic body to decide on taxes, he added.