VIJAYPUR, Sep 3: Provincial President of the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, Manjit Singh, today strongly objected to the alleged substandard drainage work being executed by the Public Works Department (PWD) under the jurisdiction of Municipal Committee, Vijaypur, asserting that there can be no compromise with the quality of public infrastructure being developed with taxpayers’ money.
Taking serious cognizance of complaints received from local residents regarding the poor quality of the ongoing drainage work, Singh personally visited the site to assess the situation. During his inspection, he found deficiencies in the execution of the work and expressed concern over what he described as substandard construction that could fail to serve the very purpose for which the drainage project has been undertaken.
Singh interacted with the residents at the spot and listened to their grievances regarding the ongoing work. The locals reportedly raised concerns over the quality of the drainage construction and the manner in which the work was being carried out.Taking immediate action, Singh contacted the concerned officials of the PWD and apprised them of the complaints and deficiencies noticed at the site. Following his intervention, the concerned Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) Avinash Chadgal reached the spot.
Singh showed the AEE the portions of the drainage work where deficiencies were observed and emphasised that the work must be executed strictly according to the approved design, technical specifications and prescribed quality standards.He said that drainage infrastructure plays a crucial role in protecting roads, residential areas and public spaces from waterlogging, particularly during heavy rainfall. If such works are constructed without maintaining the required quality, he said, the public would ultimately bear the consequences.
“The government spends public money on development works with the expectation that people will receive durable and quality infrastructure. If the drainage work itself is substandard, its purpose is defeated and public money is effectively wasted,” Singh said.The Apni Party leader called upon the PWD authorities to immediately inspect the entire stretch of the ongoing drainage work and undertake necessary corrective measures wherever shortcomings have been detected. He also stressed the need for proper supervision by field-level officials to ensure that contractors do not compromise on quality.
The Apni Party leader said that merely sanctioning or executing development projects was not enough, as the concerned departments must also ensure proper supervision and quality control at every stage of execution. He called upon the PWD authorities to immediately examine the work and take corrective measures wherever deficiencies have been found. “The people cannot be made to suffer because of negligence or lack of supervision. Roads and other public infrastructure are built from taxpayers’ money, and every rupee must be utilised honestly and efficiently,” Singh asserted.He further urged the PWD authorities to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and ensure that field-level officers regularly inspect ongoing works instead of waiting for complaints from residents.
Singh warned that if the deficiencies were not rectified and the required corrective measures were not taken, he would highlight the matter publicly and raise the issue on the roads, so that the people could know how public works were being executed in their areas.He said that accountability cannot be limited to files and offices, adding that officials responsible for monitoring development works must remain answerable for the quality of projects executed on the ground.
“People have the right to question the quality of development works being carried out in their areas. We will not remain silent when genuine complaints are brought before us. If the work is being done with public money, it must be done for the public and according to the prescribed standards,” Singh asserted.He further urged the concerned department to ensure regular technical inspections of the drainage work and take timely action to prevent further deterioration.
Singh appreciated the local residents for bringing the issue to his notice and assured them that the Apni Party would continue to take up genuine public grievances with the concerned authorities and seek accountability wherever deficiencies are found in the execution of public works.