Two firms fined Rs7L in city for construction irregularities

Varanasi: Taking serious note of negligence in various ongoing construction works, the Varanasi municipal commissioner Himanshu Nagpal imposed a fine of Rs7 lakh on two firms for negligence in development works and substandard construction.

The commissioner also issued a strict warning that misuse of public funds and compromise on quality will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

During a site inspection of an under-construction senior care centre at Bada Lalpur on Sunday, the municipal commissioner found a substandard quality and slow pace of construction work. Expressing strong displeasure over this, the municipal commissioner directed that the concerned executing firm be immediately fined Rs 5 lakh. Later, he inspected the Sarnath Zone office building being constructed on Pandeypur-Panchkoshi Road and found negligence on the part of the contractor.

“More than six months have passed since the work commenced, yet only a half-incomplete basement has been constructed. Moreover, the quality of materials being used in the construction is extremely substandard,” the official said, imposing a penalty of Rs2 lakh on the firm.

During the inspection, the municipal commissioner also reviewed the cleaning of a large 4.5-kilometre-long kutcha drain at Aidhe (Bada Lalpur). He directed that a proposal for paving this drain in the future be prepared and presented at the earliest. Additionally, during the inspection of Narokhar Nala and Pal Basti Nala on Pandeypur-Panchkoshi Marg, he instructed officials concerned that full-depth cleaning of the drains by removing silt must be ensured before the monsoon at all circumstances.