PAC criticizes PWD over sub-par quality of Mumbai roads

MUMBAI: Public Accounts Committee of India (PAC) has issued discontentment over public works department’s (PWD) inaction against anomalies observed in the quality of construction of several roads in Mumbai. Several contractors have allegedly used fake invoices to procure contractors and thus the sub-par quality of the roads have been ensued. The issue was raised by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in March 2013, when 101 invoices for 1,603.92 metric ton of bitumen valued at Rs 6.38 crore procured from Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) were found fake on cross verification.

The CAG also discovered that contractors had obtained 895.045 metric ton of bitumen worth Rs 3.54 crore, for several operations of private agencies instead of government refineries. The PWD hadn’t addressed the issues since and the case was recently taken up by the PAC.

“Despite the CAG’s objection, the department has not acted against officials for five years. The gross irregularities are an organised act by contractors and officials. It cannot take place without the direct involvement of officials,” states the PAC report which was presented in the Maharashtra state Assembly on Monday, July 1. PWD’s step of blacklisting the contractors who have been alleged of foul play was also criticized by the PAC. The committee said, “While the company is blacklisted, the directors and partners have the option to register a new company in another name and continue their businesses.”