PANJIM: Claiming that a whopping amount of Rs 6000 crore was spent on roads in the last five years, Congress has urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to conduct an inquiry into the road works tendered and executed by Public Works Department (PWD) during the period and demanded stringent action against those responsible for mis-utilisation of funds thus risking lives of people.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar in a letter to Chief Minister has also demanded for an Vigilance inquiry into the allegations floating on corruption in PWD.
“This is to bring to your notice that the conditions of the roads across the State of Goa are presently in pathetic and dilapidated condition. This has resulted in grave inconvenience to the general public at large. The worsening of the road condition has resulted in numerous accidents causing serious injuries to the commuters. The condition of roads is affecting life of every Goan and those visiting our State thereby clearly bringing bad repute and name to the State,” Chodankar said in the letter.
He claimed that during last five years, the State Government has spent around Rs 2400 crores on roads, while Central Government through its ambitious National Highways project spent around Rs 3500 crores for improving the road network in Goa.
“This illustrates that during last five years, around Rs 6000 crores of tax payers’ money has been spent on roads in the State. In this present scenario the accountability of these Rs 6,000 crores is a big issue as how and where the funds have been utilised as the road conditions across the State have worsened,” Congress leader charged.
Chodankar alleged that the bad roads all across the State are result of mass corruption in PWD. “Today it is an open secret that commission and kickbacks are paid in PWD, let’s accept the fact,” he alleged.
Pointing to media reports, he said that there are reports which have stated that work done by the contractors is actually of only 50 per cent of the estimated price of the tender and this happens because tenders are quoted and successfully won 20 per cent below the estimated price of the tender with discretion in the hands of the PWD Minister.
“In addition to quoting below 20% of the estimated cost, the contractor pays the kickbacks. This modus operandi has
resulted in sub standard work by the contractors which has resulted in potholes and bad condition of the roads,” he charged, demanding withdrawal of the circular that allows quoting below 20% of the estimated cost in order to bring transparency in online tendering process.
Chodankar said that Chief Minister have time-and again reinforced commitment for corruption free Governance and now this scenario gives him an opportunity to prove the commitment towards the people.
“In view of the above, you are hereby called upon to conduct a Vigilance inquiry into the allegations floating on corruption in Public Works Department and inquiring all road works tendered and executed during last five years. The inquiry should be done in a time bound manner, fix accountability and take stringent action against all those who are responsible for mis-utilisation of public funds and risking the lives of Goans,” he said.
