Payment in excess: MC yet to fix responsibility

Harshraj Singh
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, January 19

Even after a third party audit report pointed out that Rs44.70 lakh was paid in excess to the contractor concerned by the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation for the Jagraon bridge retaining wall work, the MC is yet to fix the responsibility of B&R branch officials concerned in this regard.

Besides, the process to recover the excess payment from the contractor is also being delayed.

On January 1, the MC Commissioner had written to the Additional Commissioner concerned to take an action as per the directions of the government for recovering the excess payment that was made to the contractor and submit a report in 15 days. However, the MC is yet to recover the excess payment from the contractor.

Raising questions over lackadaisical attitude, the leader of the Opposition in the MC House, Harbhajan Singh Dang, said responsibility should be fixed for issuing excess payment to the contractor. “Action should be initiated against the officials who are at fault. The MC should ensure the recovery of excess payment from the contractor at the earliest. Also, the erring contractor must be debarred,” he said.

Kuldeep Singh Khaira of Vigilant Citizens’ Forum, Ludhiana, said: “When the audit report has highlighted embezzlement, why action against responsible officials is being delayed? The MC authorities must set an example by taking a strict action against the erring officials who had issued excess payment to the contractor. Transparency in all projects must be ensured.”

Sources said a proposal was made by the B&R branch officials concerned to increase the Jagraon bridge retaining wall project cost on the pretext of changing the design.

MC Additional Commissioner Rishipal Singh said they would issue fresh notices to the officials concerned in this regard.

MC Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal said they would take the required action against the officials responsible for releasing excess payment to the contractor.

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