SCHEMES FALL PREY TO NEGLIGENCE

SCHEMES FALL PREY TO NEGLIGENCE

19-MARCH-ENG 5

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------In Ward No. 10 of the Shahpur Nagar Panchayat, a case has surfaced—under the guise of development works—that raises serious questions regarding administrative transparency and efficiency. According to reports, a significant section of a masonry drain (*pakka pain*)—constructed using bricks to channel water from an old government borewell located south of NH-922 for agricultural irrigation—has been demolished to make way for the construction of a new PCC (Plain Cement Concrete) road. This action has been taken despite claims that the site lies outside the designated municipal limits and that no proposal for boundary delimitation has yet been passed.

Prior to the order issued by the Department of Urban Development and Housing on February 25, 2026, existing regulations mandated that any project with an estimated cost exceeding ₹15 lakh required the invitation of a public tender. However, in an apparent attempt to bypass the transparency inherent in the tendering process and to extend undue favors to cronies, the Empowered Standing Committee deliberately split the entire road project into two or three separate components. This division was executed in such a manner that the estimated cost of each individual component fell below the mandatory threshold requiring a public tender. Through this technical maneuver, the entire project was approved internally at the departmental level without any open bidding process—a move that constitutes a direct violation of established rules.

This corrupt scheme is not limited merely to bureaucratic manipulation on paper; it also faces serious allegations involving nepotism and a blatant compromise on quality standards. It is widely rumored locally that the actual execution of this construction work was undertaken by a family member of an influential local public representative. The state of the construction quality is abysmal, with technical standards having been completely disregarded. In stark contrast to the prescribed norms for PCC roads, the work here was completed by laying a layer of concrete merely 1.5 inches thick. Experts warn that a road of such minimal thickness is incapable of withstanding vehicular load and is bound to deteriorate and crumble very rapidly. The irony is that similar irregularities have been observed previously in other wards of the Shahpur Nagar Panchayat as well; yet, the concerned officials have learned no lessons from these incidents, nor has any effective check been placed on the culprits. Deep resentment prevails among local citizens regarding this substandard construction work and the misappropriation of public funds. Local residents have even lodged written complaints with higher authorities concerning these projects within the municipal area.

The locals of Shahpur Nagar Panchayat believe that the culprits are being shielded solely due to the influence of powerful individuals. This road—constructed through such misuse of government funds and at the cost of damaging the agricultural irrigation infrastructure—has become a living testament to corruption.