Substandard pipes in sewerage project

Contractor gives Rs4 billion project to unauthorised subcontractors.

RAHIM YAR KHAN:

An inspection team has found a section of the sewerage line laid in the Rs4 billion Mega Sewage Project in Rahim Yar Khan substandard, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Following a complaint submitted by a citizen, Housing and Physical Planning secretary Sohail Amir ordered the Public Health Engineering Chief Engineer South Punjab Malik Tanveer Ahmad to inspect it for quality of materials and workmanship.

Ahmad inspected the site on Saturday at the head of a team that included Bahawalpur SE Hafiz Shabbeer Ahmad, NESPAK’s Project Manager Amir Munir and Resident Engineer Fiaz Ahmed.

Chief Engineer Ahmad told The Tribune, “The company in charge did a shoddy job. I have forwarded my initial report. I will inspect 20 other sites and forward my final report within a week.”

“If we find them guilty of substandard work we will fine them and order them to re-do the work according to the specifications,” he said.

Rahim Yar Khan SDO Farooq Siddique Gujjar, who supervised the project, denied that the chief engineer had found the materials or work substandard. Mohammad Imran Cheema, owner of Friends and Company, too, denied that the allegations of substandard work were false.

He said that the work was up to standard. “We are prepared for any section of the line to be inspected by the chief engineer. If any part of the work is found below standards, we will re-lay the section and pay the fines,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2012.