PWD to use IT to monitor progress of ongoing projects
To ensure quality in construction of roads, bridges and other government buildings in the State, the Himachal Pradesh government has decided to evolve a mechanism for third party inspection by establishing an independent quality check squad in the Chief Minister Office.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur in a meeting regarding implementation of GST and its impact in the Public Works Department on the works contract today, said the State Government would take serious note of any delay in completion of projects or compromising quality, and won’t hesitate in taking action against the erring contractors or executing agencies.
Jai Ram Thakur said the Government was also contemplating to start a scheme to provide incentives to the executing agencies completing the projects ahead of stipulated time period. He said that this would not only bring competitiveness amongst the contractors but also help in checking cost escalation in the projects. He said that automation of Public Works Department would be taken in a big way so that maximum use of information technology could be ensured for monitoring progress in ongoing projects.
Chief Minister said that for ensuring quality construction material and also providing relief to the contractors, the government has decided that except cement, the material approved would be arranged by the contractors from the market and if any material required by the contractors, the same would be issued on proportionate market rates to be derived on the basis of agreement rates and no input tax credits etc. would be given to the contractors on the said material issued from the store.
Jai Ram Thakur said that in order to ensure minimum damage to environment by optimum use of mucked material extracted from the site, the Government has authorized the contractors to use the material for construction purpose as per the satisfaction of the engineer in-charge. He said that the contractors would be allowed to use the crushers to crush the mucked extracted on the site of work for captive use on the awarded work.
Chief Minister said that the government was sympathetic towards various issues of the contractors in post GST era. He said that a committee would be constituted to look into the matter and submit its report at the earliest.
Jai Ram Thakur directed the officers to identify spots where frequent landslides take place especially in rainy season. Adequate men and machinery should be deployed there so that in case of landslides the commuters do not face any inconvenience.
Additional Chief Secretary, PWD Manisha Nanda ensured best coordination with the executing agencies so that all the projects being executed in the State could be completed within stipulated time period. Additional Chief Secretary-cum- Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Dr. Shrikant Baldi, Principal Secretary, Industries R.D. Dhiman, Principal Secretary, Excise and Taxation J.C. Sharma, Engineer in Chief, PWD R.P. Verma, contractors and senior officers of PWD Department were also present on the occasion.
