Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Jupally Krishna Rao has expressed disappointment over the slow progress of road work taken up under the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojna and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.
At a review meeting held here on Saturday with the engineering officials and representatives of the work agencies, he cautioned them that action would be taken if the ongoing work were not completed within three months and work which were given administrative approval were not grounded. The minister told the engineers to review the practice of giving designing and soil testing work to consultants and directed action against the consultants who were unable to submit their reports in time. He also sought an action taken report within a week on the consultants who were delaying the reports and directed that estimates and designing aspects should be completed within a week after approvals. He asked the authorities to examine the possibilities of appointing one post-graduate engineer for every division to handle designing and soil testing works as the delay caused by the consultants for the two works was being cited as the main reason for slow progress in many works.
Stating that the process of tenders should be completed within a month of getting administrative and technical approvals, Mr. Rao said agreement should be completed within 15 days after completion of tenders process and be given work order. Directing the engineers not to give extension for agreement without proper reasons, the minister told them that pressure should be maintained on the contractors to complete the works in time. He wanted the authorities to initiate action against negligent officials and also blacklist the lethargic contractors.
