Public works contractors in the State have levelled allegations of corruption against officials of the Public Works Department. Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam holds the PWD portfolio. Frustrated over inaction by the PWD authorities , members of the Tamil Nadu PWD Engineering Contractors Association placed a banner in front of the department headquarters here alleging corruption in awarding contract works.
The banner was later removed by police. An audio recording between a contractor and an engineer is available on social media since Wednesday.
The association members said they were forced to take an aggressive posture as they were affected for the past two years. The association comprises about 150 contractors who take up small maintenance work of public sector buildings. S.Gunamani, president of Tamil Nadu PWD Engineering Contractors Association, alleged that the works, particularly of medical buildings, to the tune of Rs. 3 lakh, were being awarded not by bidding method, but on “nomination basis”.
Though several representations were made, the issue was yet to be resolved. Alleging that the contractors have to pay nearly 41 per cent of the project cost as commission, Mr. Gunamani said that another four per cent goes towards sales and income tax. “We have to work with the remaining 55 per cent funds. We chose to put up banner to attract the attention of the government,” he said.
P. Krishnamurthy, member of the association, who is identified to be in the audio recording, said: “I have been able to take up work amounting to only Rs.25 lakh in the past two years as PWD officials were awarding works only to few contractors. Bill payment is also delayed for over a year.”
Chief Minister holds the PWD portfolio
