Three officials including a departmental engineer have been placed under suspension after a probe found that some Anicuts constructed in Bastar division were of poor quality, Water Resources Minister Brijmohan Agrawal informed the State Assembly on Thursday.
Replying to the question raised by BJP member Santosh Bafna during the Question Hour, the Minister said that the Government had received complaints about the poor quality construction of four Anicuts in Bastar division. The allegations were found to be true after a high- level enquiry was conducted. After that, the State Government had placed an assistant engineer and two junior officers under suspension. Agrawal said the government had approved construction of 7 reservoirs, 90 stop dam Anicuts and 19 other projects in Bastar division between 2010-11 and 2013-14.
While work of nine of the 11 projects worth Rs44.2 crore sanctioned in 2010-11 have been completed, work of one project was under progress.
Similarly 16 of the 23 projects worth Rs79.13 crore sanctioned in 2012-13 have been completed and seven projects were under progress, he added.
He said works of a total 18 projects sanctioned during the last four years have not been started, he said. The Minister said the concerned contractors had been asked to ensure quality after the department received complaints of irregularities in the construction of anicut at Barada, and Sendhar nullah. The concerned contractors have already made necessary correction in the Anicut work at Barada, he said. The payment will not be made to the contractor unless necessary correction is made in the Sendhar Nullah Anicut project, he said.