Hyderabad: More than 100 public works fail to take off

Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has failed to begin more than 100 developmental works pertaining to nalas, road widening and storm water drains even though the tender process was completed a year ago and administrative sanctions have been obtained. 

Corporators have pointed out this fact during council meetings. They claim that since a year now the civic body has neither cancelled the tenders nor initiated any action against the contractors who have won the contracts but not completed the work in the stipulated time. 

Civic officials say they will now pursue the status of the works and learn the reason for the delays before initiating action against the contractors, something they should have done a long time ago.

The corporators, including from the ruling party, have alleged in council meetings that officials and contractors have been deliberately delaying work at the ground level. They claim that even though tenders were finalised for nala widening and road laying, the work has not been executed due to the apathy of the civic officials. Corporators say they have been facing the heat from the public due to the delays as citizens are severely inconvenienced. They said that delay in release of funds is the prime reason. Also, the corporation has been according more than five works to the same contractor, which cannot be executed simultaneously.

Madhapur corporator V Jagdishwar Goud alleged that the nala widening and strengthening work has been delayed due to the nexus between ground level officers and contractors. He said that the officials have been working only to benefit contractors and not the public. 

“Even though tenders were finalised, the corporation has failed to execute the work pertaining to nalas. This has not only been causing inconvenience but also endangering the people,” he said.

Co-option opted member G. Jyothi made similar allegations. She said that there were several disparities in the width of the roads. Ayesha Rubina, Ahmed Nagar corporator, said that around 32 works have been pending for a long time and she has requested the chief engineer to initiate action against the concerned contractor and was assured that necessary action will be taken as per rules. 

A senior GHMC official on condition of anonymity said that if there is a delay in execution, the corporation must issue notices. He also said that if the delay continues even after issuance of notice, penalty must be imposed.