PWD Minister Rajesh Munat has devised a novel method of keeping tabs on various development works underway in his Department across Chhattisgarh. The Minister stated that he will now continuously monitor the development work undertaken by his Department using ‘WhatsApp’.
Munat directed the officers to provide inspection reports and photographs of the construction sites directly to him through the application. In a review meeting with the Chief Engineer and Executive Engineers held at New Circuit House here, the Minister directed the officers to provide him the monthly inspection report along with photographs through WhatsApp.
He directed the officers to ensure completion all the approved works in Bastar and Surguja divisions in given time-frame on priority basis. Munat said that there should be no delay in inviting tenders after getting administrative sanctions. He directed that the pending issues should be disposed in a phased manner within a month.
For sanctioned works pending due to unavailability of site, Munat said that the officers should coordinate with the administration to start the works immediately. The construction of hostel building, school building, health center building in remote forest areas of Bastar and Surguja should be completed in decided time as per the agreement. The works which have not been completed in given time period should be taken on priority, he said.
Munat said that to encourage new construction agencies to complete the work in given time frame, the government has decided that such agencies need only registration for works upto Rs5 crore. Any agency registered under A-5 can compete in tenders for works up to Rs5 crore. There is no need pre-qualification or financial bid, he said.
The Minister also directed to install notice boards with details of work at the construction sites. The notice boards should also have details and telephone number of the construction agency and supervising officer.
last year, with a view to reducing the paperwork for tender process for the PWD contractors, the State government decided to issue certificates to the contractors which will be renewed in November month every year.
The contractors now upload the required papers on e-registration website and submit the notary certified copies of the documents with the office of Chief Engineer by December 12 to get the certificate, officials said.
The officials said that the contractors submit Income Tax balance sheet of past five years, profit and loss account and the audit report, certificate issued by a Chartered Accountant regarding turnover of past five years and no dues from Commercial Tax department. They submit these documents once and they are issued a certificate by the Chief Engineer office. The contractor uploads the certificate while applying for tenders in future. The certificate has to be renewed every year in November, they said.
The contractors will have to upload the documents at the e-registration website and submit the notary certified copies with the office of the Chief Engineer. To upload the documents, the contractor login on the e-registration website by entering the user ID and the password issued to them by the department through SMS, officials said.
Munat while holding a meeting with officials had stated that penalty will be imposed on construction agencies if they fail to complete the work as per quality norms within prescribed time period. The Minister stated that the construction agencies accept the construction work on the conditions of the tender then they should complete the work within the given time period.
He had warned the departmental officers that no relaxation in the terms and conditions should be given in construction works after issuing tender. If such relaxations are done, recovery will be done from the concerned officer.
He had further directed that spot inspection should be done before issuing the tender. In the spot inspection the team should check if there is any electricity line, tree, rehabilitation of people or any other physical obstruction in the work.
These problems should be sorted in advance so that construction work goes without obstruction. He stated that tender process for construction should be started only after getting possession of the land. For preparation of revised estimate in case of delay due to different reasons, Munat said this is a wrong practice and asked the officers and contractors to be cautious.