Minister for Public Works G. Sudhakaran has justified the suspension of a woman assistant executive engineer of the Public Works Department’s quality testing wing on the ground that she leaked to her colleagues and a television channel one of the test reports on the Vyttila flyover being built by the PWD (NH wing).
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Sudhakaran said PWD Principal Secretary Kamala Vardhana Rao issued the suspension order since the assistant executive engineer had acted in an irresponsible manner. She apparently had a grouse against a senior PWD official who was supervising the flyover work. It points to the possibility that she leaked the test report (which pointed out inferior quality of concreting done for deck slabs and girders, and also slack supervision by PWD officials), instead of reporting it to the Department.
The engineer has still not officially brought the matter to the notice of the PWD or to the State government. Even if she is under suspension, she can submit the technical results of quality test done on the flyover. The PWD would take corrective action if required, as was being done for the damaged Palarivattom flyover, said the Minister.
Interestingly, third-party vetting of the flyover done by Mar Athanasius College, Kothamangalam does not speak of any sub-quality work done on the flyover. A detailed report from the college is awaited on Monday. Reports received so far do not point to any concern about the quality of flyover construction or of slack supervision. The PWD suspended the official since the leaked test report might instil fear in the minds of people, said Mr. Sudhakaran.
Vigilance probe
In the backdrop of the controversy and the ongoing probe into irregularities in the construction of the Palarivattom flyover, the government is considering ordering a Vigilance probe into the leaking of the quality-test report. A decision would be taken after consulting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, he added.
The government had directed structural-engineering experts of IIT-Palakkad to inspect the Vyttila flyover and submit a report, since its design was readied by the Bengaluru-based consultant that had designed the Palarivattom flyover which suffered extensive cracks within two years of commissioning. There have been complaints that adequate water was not being used for curing the concrete. Only 70% of the Vyttila flyover work is ready, although it is slated for commissioning in May.
Meanwhile, Congress workers led by P.T. Thomas, MLA, held a dharna at the flyover site on Sunday, seeking an impartial probe into the quality of works. Mr. Thomas denounced the government for suspending the “whistle-blower” official.
