Patch work on road falls apart,

contractor’s payment withheld

Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 24

A local contractor started repair and patch work of various roads in Rajpura two days ago, but the next day the whole material came off the road allegedly due to the poor quality of material used by the contractor.

The administration has decided to stop the payment of the erring contractor, besides collecting samples of the material.

Sources said the tender worth lakhs of rupees for the repair of roads in the town was allotted after the tendering process. The local municipal council officials were hand-in-glove with the contractor, they alleged. “The roads were repaired last week and the material used to fill potholes has come off which speaks volumes of the quality of work done,” a source said.

The matter was brought to the notice of Rajpura MLA Hardyal Kambhoj. He threatened to hold a protest alleging that the role of MC officials should be probed for allowing the contractor complete the work using poor material.

“We will not misuse of government funds meant for roads. Most of the roads in Rajpura are already in poor shape,” he said.

In a letter to MC officials, Rajpura Sub-Divisional Magistrate JK Jain has told them to stop the payment to the contractor. “An inquiry has been ordered following allegations of substandard material being used in the road repair work,” said.