Deputy Chief Minister Shri Arun Sao’s strict action against substandard construction, two officers of Public Works Department suspended, show cause notice issued to two officers

Acn18.com l Inspection of the upgradation and renovation work of Chotiya-Chirmiri road, Chief Engineer directed to submit charge sheet against the suspended officers within 15 days**Executive Engineer and Sub-Divisional Officer will have to respond to the show cause notice within a week*Raipur, 27 February 2024/ Public Works Department has held the officials in-charge accountable for substandard quality of road upgradation and renovation work. After the thorough inspection of the construction site on instructions of Deputy Chief Minister and Public Works Minister Shri Arun Sao, the department has taken action against the four officers responsible for the irregularities. Sub-divisional officer and sub-engineer of Katghora sub-division have been suspended and a show cause notice has been issued to the then executive engineer of Korba division and the sub-divisional officer.Ever since Deputy Chief Minister Shri Arun Sao took charge as PWD Minister, he has been particular about ensuring the quality and timely completion of construction works. He has given strict instructions to the officers to make adherence to quality standards and timely completion the top priority.During the inspection of the ten kilometer long road upgradation and renovation work (actual length 23.3 km) of Chotiya-Chirmiri road in Korba district, the thickness and density of the asphalting was found to be substandard. Public Works Department has held the officials in-charge accountable for the low quality of the construction work. The department has taken a strict action against the concerned officials. In the matter, Sub Divisional Officer of Sub Division-2 Katghora, Mr. SP Sahu and Deputy Engineer Shri Rakesh Verma have been suspended. In the suspension order issued by the Ministry, it is stated that by compromising on the quality of the road construction and asphalting work, Sub-Divisional Officer and Deputy Engineer have misused their authority and committed irregularities in the discharge of their official duties. Therefore, under the Chhattisgarh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1966, Shri S.P. Sahu, Sub-Divisional Officer and Mr. Rakesh Verma, Deputy Engineer, Public Works Department, Sub Division No-2 Katghora have been suspended with immediate effect and attached to the office of Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, Nirman Bhawan. Both will be eligible for subsistence allowance during the suspension period as per rules. Chief Engineer of Public Works Department has been directed to submit a charge sheet against both the officers to the government within 15 days.Public Works Department has issued show cause notice to the then Executive Engineer of Korba Division, Shri A.K. Verma and Sub-Divisional Officer of Korba Sub Division Shri R.N. Dubey. Both the officers have committed irregularities in the discharge of their official duties. They have misused their authority by compromising with the quality standards in the construction work. The officials have been accused of gross negligence, indifference and arbitrariness towards their duty. Considering this as serious misconduct under Chhattisgarh Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1965, the government has issued show cause notice to both the officers, to which they have to respond within seven days. If they do not respond within the stipulated time, unilateral action will be taken as per rules.