Obra: Public guard on road renovation in the dark of night; work stopped due to fear of corruption

Cameraman Ku with Ajit Singh’s report. Rita

Obra/Sonbhadra-

The functioning of the Public Works Department (PWD) on the main road from Obra Hanuman Temple to Bajrang Nagar in Obra Nagar is once again under controversy. The local citizens not only stopped the road renovation work which was started secretly at around 11 pm on Monday night, but also raised serious questions on the intentions of the department. Local people allege that the work of removing dust and concrete from the road tracks was going on for the last one week. The residents of the city felt that the city was being cleaned on the occasion of Mahashivratri festival.

But on the night of 16 February, when heavy machinery and preparations for laying tar started, the matter changed from cleaning to road renewal. In the presence of the Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department on the spot, the citizens had a heated debate and sought answers on the following points. Local people argue that the current condition of the road was quite good. In such a situation, what was the need for re-asphalting without any technical fault? Was any condition survey made public? As a rule, before the commencement of any government work, it is mandatory to put up a work board giving details of its cost, length and executing organization, which was missing on the spot.

Safety equipment like barricading or reflectors were not used during the work going on in the dark of night, which could have endangered the lives of pedestrians. The department also had no clear answer regarding the safety equipment of the workers present on the spot and compliance with labor laws. According to departmental sources, this work was approved 6 months ago and the tender was allotted 2 months ago. However, the officials could not satisfy the public over the haste in starting the work at night. When the road is already passable, why misuse government funds? Starting work at 11 pm itself raises questions on transparency.

Due to huge protest and uproar from the citizens, the work has been temporarily postponed. Local people have made it clear that until the department makes public the details of the cost, technical base and quality standards of the work, the work will not be allowed to proceed even an inch. Now the role of district administration has become important in this matter. Will higher officials conduct technical investigation of this work or will it be put on hold?