Rs 1.41 cr to be spent on Malout grain market’s boundary wall

The damaged wall of the grain market in Malout that has to be reconstructed. A Tribune photograph

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Malout, September 9

The state government is about to spend a whopping Rs 1.41 crore just to reconstruct the boundary wall of the grain market at Malout in Muktsar district.

The work executing agency – Punjab Mandi Board – has even floated the e-tenders for this 1,500-m-long boundary wall. If one analyses the figures, a 1-m boundary wall with a height of 4.25 ft and 1.75-ft iron grill fixed atop it would cost the state government about Rs 9,390.

However, if construction experts are to be believed, the amount proposed to be spent is much higher than the actual cost. “The 1,500-m-long boundary wall can’t cost Rs 1.41 crore. Before allocating the tender work, the execution agency must reassess the actual cost of the project or some independent agency must intervene timely to save unnecessary expenses. It seems the department or officials concerned are in a mood to spend lavishly on this project,” said a private construction contractor.

When contacted, Sham Behari Kansal, Executive Engineer, Punjab Mandi Board, Muktsar, said, “The project cost has been fixed after thoroughly assessing the design of the boundary wall and that too as per the common schedule of rates (CSR). There is a difference of about 2.5-ft between the level of outer road and inner road of the grain market. So, the inner portion of the wall has to be built like a retaining wall. It will be made on the reinforced concrete cement (RCC) model, having double beams. Besides, the wall will have multiple pillars at a distance of every 12 ft. Some gates will also be installed for having entry and exit passage.”

He said earlier some notorious elements had dismantled the boundary wall. “This time we are making it in such a way that it can’t be dismantled without using heavy machinery,” added Kansal.

Sources in the Punjab Mandi Board said the tendering process couldn’t be done on the earlier date and it would be be done in a few days.

Courtesy: The Tribune