Government strict on irregularities and negligence, action against officials from Bijapur to Raipur
Instructions for FIR against officers guilty of irregularities, corruption, collusion, wastage of government money and poor quality work in road construction in Bijapur, suspension with immediate effect as well
Five officers suspended for substandard and poor quality work and irregularities in the repair of Mowa Overbridge in Raipur
Raipur. 17 January 2025: The state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai has shown zero tolerance by taking strict action against officers and employees who committed irregularities and negligence in development works. The state government has taken strict action against the officials of the Public Works Department from Bijapur to Raipur, taking strict action on irregularities, negligence, poor quality work and irregularities in road construction and overbridge repair work. The state government has taken action of FIR as well as suspension against the officers guilty of irregularities, corruption, collusion, wastage of government money and poor quality work in road construction in Bijapur. A show cause notice has also been issued to an officer. On the other hand, five officials have been suspended for substandard and poor quality work and irregularities in the repair of Mowa Overbridge in Raipur.
Implementing zero tolerance against corruption and irregularities in the state, the government has taken major action against many officials today. In Bijapur, under RRP-1 (LWE) scheme, the irregularities found in the report received from the investigation team regarding the work of 54.40 km long very important in-progress Nelsnar-Kodoli-Miratul-Gangalur road are serious and due to connivance of the concerned officials, there is prima facie evidence of wastage of government money in road construction, embezzlement, giving faulty evaluation report and corruption in connivance with the contractor/construction agency. The state government, taking strict action, has suspended the then Executive Engineer B.L. Dhruv, Sub-Divisional Officer R.K. for irregularities in road construction work in Naxal-affected areas, serious corruption, wastage of government money through connivance and deliberate poor quality construction work. Instructions have been given to the Chief Engineer of Bastar Zone, Jagdalpur to immediately inform the Public Works Department by lodging an FIR against Sinha and Deputy Engineer G.S. Kodopi and other concerned officials under the Indian Penal Code, Prevention of Corruption Act and other relevant sections.
The investigation team constituted in connection with the work of Nelsnar-Kodoli-Miratul-Gangalur road inspected the work site on 8th and 9th January along with the Chief Engineer of Bastar Zone and the Superintending Engineer of Bastar Division. During this, many deficiencies were found. In the construction work of the road, from 29.00 km to 32.00 km and 50/10, in a total of 4.20 km BT (OGPC+SEAL COAT) work, the seal coat has peeled off at most places, which is in DLP 06/2025. From Km 41/2 to 50/10, road surface sink potholes have developed at various furlongs viz. 41/10, 42/2, 42/6, 42/8, 42/10, 43/2, 43/4, 43/8, 44/6, 44/8, 45/4, 45/6, 45/8, 45/10, 46/6, 47/2, 47/10 & 50/8, which are in DLP till 06/2025. The approach slab of the bridge at Km 28/4, 30/6 and 40/2 has settled due to inadequate thickness and poor compaction of back filling material without reinforcement. Thus, by getting the work done without following the prescribed standards and norms, the Sub-Divisional Officer and Deputy Engineer have committed irregularities in the discharge of their official duties by misusing their authority. Taking strict action on this, the department has suspended the Sub-Divisional Officer Mr. R.K. Sinha and Deputy Engineer Mr. G.S. Kodopi with immediate effect and their headquarters have been fixed as the office of the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department located at Nava Raipur. During the suspension period, both will be eligible for subsistence allowance as per rules.
The Public Works Department has issued a show cause notice to retired in-charge Executive Engineer of Bijapur, Mr. B.L. Dhruv, considering the work done without following the prescribed standards and norms in the work of Nelsnar-Kodoli-Miratul-Gangalur road as a serious misconduct and gross negligence towards duty, indifference and arbitrariness. In the notice issued to him, the department has asked why strict disciplinary action should not be taken against you for the said act. He has been asked to submit his written reply in this regard within 15 days of receiving the notice. If the written reply is not received within the prescribed time period, unilateral action will be taken against the concerned as per rules. Five officers suspended for irregularities in Mowa overbridge repair work, Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Arun Saw had inspected the work and ordered an inquiry
The Public Works Department has also taken major action against substandard and poor quality work and irregularities in the repair of Mowa railway overbridge in Raipur. After investigation, the department has suspended five officers. Taking cognizance of the complaints in the asphalting work in the overbridge, Deputy Chief Minister and Public Works Minister Arun Saw had conducted a surprise inspection of the work. During the inspection, he found poor quality work/defects at the work site. In this regard, the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department’s Bridge Zone, Raipur received the investigation report from the Central Quality and Research Laboratory, Public Works Department, Raipur, in which the average bitumen content, combined density, gradation of the material were found to be less than the standard level. In this way, by getting the asphalting work done without following the substandard level and quality parameters, the Executive Engineer, Sub-Divisional Officer and Deputy Engineers have committed irregularities in the discharge of their official duties by misusing the authority. Taking strict action on this, the department has suspended Executive Engineer Vivek Shukla, Sub-Divisional Officer Roshan Kumar Sahu and Deputy Engineers Rajiv Mishra, Devvrat Yamraj and Tanmay Gupta. During the suspension period, the headquarters of all of them has been fixed as the Chief Engineer’s Office of the Public Works Department located in Nava Raipur. During the suspension period, he will be eligible for subsistence allowance as per rules.
