Chandigarh (Haryana) [India], July 14 (ANI): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has said that there will be zero tolerance for poor-quality government construction works and has directed all departments to ensure that every public infrastructure project is executed strictly in accordance with prescribed standards and specifications.
The concerned departments should pay particular attention to road layering and ensure strict compliance with the specifications laid down in the tender documents. Strict action will be taken against the responsible officers and employees if any negligence, poor quality, or violation of rules is found in the construction work, he said, according to a release.
Saini chaired a review meeting of the Quality Assurance Authority (QAA) on Tuesday to assess the quality of government construction works and the progress of technical audits being conducted across various departments.
During the meeting, Chairman, QAA, Rajeev Arora presented an update on the implementation of decisions taken during the previous review meeting, the progress made by various departments and the future action plan.
He also presented technical audit reports on ongoing infrastructure projects across the state, supported by photographs and other technical evidence highlighting project planning, construction quality, compliance with prescribed standards and areas requiring improvement.
The meeting primarily reviewed projects undertaken by the Irrigation, Public Works, Power, and Public Health Engineering Departments.
The Chief Minister said that, in addition to auditing construction projects executed by State Government departments, the Quality Assurance Authority should also conduct periodic audits of construction works carried out by Central Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in Haryana.
He said the Haryana Government is committed to taking the quality of public construction to a new level by promoting better project management practices, fixing accountability and ensuring that every rupee of public money is invested in durable, high-quality infrastructure that serves public interest.
Taking serious note of the shortcomings identified in the QAA audit reports, the Chief Minister directed all Administrative Secretaries and Heads of Departments to initiate time-bound disciplinary action wherever negligence or violations of prescribed standards have been detected. He also directed departments to rectify all irregularities at the earliest to prevent similar issues in future projects.
The meeting also reviewed the implementation of decisions taken during the previous review.
Officers informed the Chief Minister that directions have already been issued regarding the appointment of DPR and design consultants, Third-Party Inspection and Monitoring Agencies (TPIMAs), providing project information through QR codes, the audit of Haryana Government-funded works by Central Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), implementing a uniform evaluation system based on Standard Operating and Monitoring Procedures (SOMPs), and removing arbitration clauses from engineering contracts. The QAA is continuously monitoring compliance with these directions.
The Chief Minister also directed the concerned departments, including the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB), to fill vacant posts of Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs), Junior Engineers (JEs) and other technical personnel to strengthen project implementation and supervision.
The meeting reviewed several initiatives, including integration of technical audit reports with the Haryana Engineering Works (HEW) Portal and the Chief Minister’s Dashboard, formulation of policies for bridges and multi-storey buildings, strengthening quality control wings, ensuring protection of Right of Way (ROW), preparing effective drainage and stormwater management plans and augmenting technical manpower.
The Chief Minister directed the concerned departments to complete these initiatives within the stipulated timelines.
The Chief Minister also reviewed progress on the proposed Quality Assurance Authority (QAA) Act. He directed all concerned departments to expedite consultations and finalise the draft legislation so that it can be introduced during the next session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. He said the proposed legislation would further strengthen quality, transparency and accountability in public construction works across the state. (ANI)
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