‘Shoddy’ work comes to fore as new waterworks crumble

A view of the waterworks with a partially damaged wall and platform in Muktsar. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 14

Two years after the inauguration of waterworks on the Tibbi Sahib road here, the wall of the water storage tank has started caving in. This speaks volumes about the standard of the construction material used in this Rs 6 crore project.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had inaugurated this water scheme, with a capacity of 75 lakh litre, on January 31, 2014. It provides potable water to about one third of the population of this town.

A visit to the waterworks complex reveals that not just the side wall of the water storage tank, but the platform too has collapsed. The cracks are increasing, making it risky to walk along the pathway.

An employee of the Water Supply and Sanitation Department said the wall had collapsed during the rains last week.

Jagjit Singh Fattanwala, a Congress leader, who visited the waterworks, said, “The state government should mark a Vigilance probe and take action against guilty officials. A huge amount was spent on its construction just about two years ago, but the water storage tank has developed a number of cracks. It shows that the quality of construction material was compromised upon.”

Repeated attempts to contact Amrik Singh, Executive Engineer, Water Supply and Sanitation Department, Muktsar, proved futile. He was not even available at his office.

Earlier too, a number of such projects developed snags soon after their completion. For instance, some residents of Mann village had sought a probe into the construction of waterworks in their village, as it was leaking. Similarly, residents of Raniwala village had raised their voice alleging that the water pipes laid in the village were leaking. The poor condition of a community hall at Gaggar village which was constructed a few years ago has also raised questions over the utilisation of funds.

The road leading to the CM’s residence in Badal village too has caved in a number of times. Further, in 2012, the then Deputy Commissioner, Muktsar, had found that for the construction of toilets under the Sulabh toilet project, sub-standard construction material was being used.

Courtesy: The Tribune