A recent report from the Vigilance Department has sparked significant controversy in the Khammam Municipal Corporation, revealing troubling irregularities involving numerous officials, particularly in the engineering division, it alleged.
Show-cause notices have been issued to a large number of civic body employees, questioning why they should not face disciplinary action for their alleged misconduct, according to sources.
The investigation focused on irregularities that occurred during the implementation of various projects prior to the last Assembly elections. Allegations surfaced regarding the allocation of contracts worth Rs 20 crore to a single contractor, raising serious concerns about the quality of the work executed. In response to these complaints, the newly elected Congress government initiated a thorough vigilance probe.
Several months ago, vigilance officials conducted an extensive review of the municipal office’s files and performed field inspections. Their findings revealed significant quality issues with the cement concrete (CC) roads developed, leading to recommendations for disciplinary action against several municipal officials. However, there was notable criticism that no action was taken against the contractor responsible for the subpar work.
Numerous complaints had been lodged regarding the quality of CC road and drainage development projects completed before the elections.
Reports indicated that a contractor, allegedly a proxy for a prominent political figure, received the majority of these contracts. A contractor was accused of delivering inferior work while manipulating municipal officials to approve inflated bills.
In light of these findings, Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao ordered a comprehensive vigilance inquiry into the matter. During the initial phase of the investigation, a fine of Rs 2 crore was imposed on the contractor for the poor quality of work. However, the latest report appears to have drastically reduced this fine to just Rs 21 lakh.
While show-cause notices have been served to executive engineers, deputy engineers, assistant engineers, and other personnel, the officials who approved the bills. Work inspectors, often hired on an outsourced basis, reportedly submitted favorable reports about the contractor’s work. Furthermore, third-party quality control personnel also delivered positive assessments of the contractor’s work, seemingly in exchange for kickbacks, which expedited the approval of the contractor’s bills.
Discussions are ongoing regarding the situation, as many struggle to understand who wielded the authority to shield the contractor and high-ranking officials, while lower-level employees are left to bear the consequences.
A recent report from the Vigilance Department has sparked significant controversy in the Khammam Municipal Corporation, revealing troubling irregularities involving numerous officials, particularly in the engineering division, it alleged.
Show-cause notices have been issued to a large number of civic body employees, questioning why they should not face disciplinary action for their alleged misconduct, according to sources.
The investigation focused on irregularities that occurred during the implementation of various projects prior to the last Assembly elections. Allegations surfaced regarding the allocation of contracts worth Rs 20 crore to a single contractor, raising serious concerns about the quality of the work executed. In response to these complaints, the newly elected Congress government initiated a thorough vigilance probe.
Several months ago, vigilance officials conducted an extensive review of the municipal office’s files and performed field inspections. Their findings revealed significant quality issues with the cement concrete (CC) roads developed, leading to recommendations for disciplinary action against several municipal officials. However, there was notable criticism that no action was taken against the contractor responsible for the subpar work.
Numerous complaints had been lodged regarding the quality of CC road and drainage development projects completed before the elections.
Reports indicated that a contractor, allegedly a proxy for a prominent political figure, received the majority of these contracts. A contractor was accused of delivering inferior work while manipulating municipal officials to approve inflated bills.
In light of these findings, Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao ordered a comprehensive vigilance inquiry into the matter. During the initial phase of the investigation, a fine of Rs 2 crore was imposed on the contractor for the poor quality of work. However, the latest report appears to have drastically reduced this fine to just Rs 21 lakh.
While show-cause notices have been served to executive engineers, deputy engineers, assistant engineers, and other personnel, the officials who approved the bills. Work inspectors, often hired on an outsourced basis, reportedly submitted favorable reports about the contractor’s work. Furthermore, third-party quality control personnel also delivered positive assessments of the contractor’s work, seemingly in exchange for kickbacks, which expedited the approval of the contractor’s bills.
Discussions are ongoing regarding the situation, as many struggle to understand who wielded the authority to shield the contractor and high-ranking officials, while lower-level employees are left to bear the consequences.
