Jajpur: The executive engineer of the Rural Works division in this town has recommended black-listing a contractor in the district, sources said Friday. The recommendation has been forwarded to the higher-up in the department.
The decision to black-list the contractor has been done in association with the laying of a 2.98-long road from NH-215 up to Pimpal locality area in Jajpur district. The road was being laid under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). However, work in laying the road has been suspended midway.
According to a source, the work order was awarded to Bhagirathi Sahoo and his firm. It has been alleged that the contractor carried out low-quality work. It has also been alleged that the contractor tried to dupe the department of Rs 24 lakh by raising a false bill. Locals said that the contractor’s firm has an unholy nexus with officials of the Jajpur and Jaraka Rural Works division.
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So the recommendation to black-list the firm and the contractor by the official has been done through a letter (No.-2295, dtd.-19.05.2021) to the chief engineer, PMGSY.
Notably, the road laying work has remained suspended for close to three years now. It started in June 7, 2018 at an estimated cost of Rs 121.34 lakh and was scheduled for completion by June, 2019. However, till date approximately 19 per cent of the total work has been completed, the executive engineer Bijay Moharana stated.
PNN
