Sirsa drainage project under fire, MC chairman inspects site

After weeks of mounting complaints over irregularities in the storm water drainage project under AMRUT 2.0, the Sirsa Municipal Council finally took action. On Sunday, Municipal Council Chairman Veer Shanti Swaroop visited the ongoing construction site at Janata Bhawan Road to inspect the quality of work. His visit follows repeated public complaints and growing concerns about corruption, poor materials and faulty execution.

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The project, worth Rs 35 crore in its second phase, aims to fix chronic waterlogging problems in Sirsa during the monsoon. However, residents claim the new drainage lines are being laid without proper base work and that poor-quality materials are being used. During his inspection, the chairman confronted the contractor’s supervisor and warned of strict consequences if any further complaints arise. “Irregularities in public works will not be tolerated. If more issues are reported, action will follow,” he said on record.

Chairman Swaroop visited the site, speaking directly with the supervising staff. The contractor’s supervisor defended the work, claiming that all tasks were being performed according to rules. He also said that local ward councillors were welcome to oversee the project if they had any doubts. However, locals have pointed out that most of Sirsa’s 32 elected councillors have been largely absent from their wards, with their personal aides now seen managing interactions and site visits.

Residents say this lack of accountability has allowed poor-quality work to continue unchecked. “Some councillors haven’t been seen in their areas for four months,” one local resident said. “How can you expect proper monitoring when the elected representatives are missing?”

The current storm water project follows an earlier Rs 37 crore Phase 1, which was supposed to resolve waterlogging in half the city. But that phase, too, faced similar allegations of corruption and substandard work. Pipes laid in Phase 1 reportedly cracked during the last monsoon, especially damaging the Dabwali road, for which repairs in that area are still ongoing.

Despite the huge cost, Phase 1 failed to prevent flooding in major parts of the city. With Phase 2 now under scrutiny even before completion, public trust in the project is quickly eroding.

Chairman Swaroop has directed that further work be done only in the presence of ward councillors to ensure transparency. However, with past failures still fresh in residents’ minds, many are now demanding an independent audit and stricter oversight.