Ensuring accountability
Now that the G20 summit held in Srinagar is over and the people in general are feeling elated to witness creation of an improved infrastructure in the capital city of Srinagar, the authorities now need to think about maintaining the various projects that were undertaken during the past several months.
As Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a thrust on improving the infrastructure the planners here need to lay thrust on ensuring that the quality of the raised infrastructure is maintained and looked after well.
This has become all the more important as various works carried out by the government agencies using private contractors and other means were lacking third party inspection systems. The absence of third party inspection mechanism had in the past led to avoiding the quality tests that should have otherwise been ensured at various stages of execution of the works.
Importantly, in a bid to improve the quality of infrastructure in road sector and fix responsibility for proper maintenance of assets, the administration last year approved the rollout of the third party inspection guidelines in Jammu and Kashmir.
The new guidelines were framed on the lines of established regulations in respect of road network created under the PMGSY scheme. Accordingly, structured control mechanism is being established in PW(R&B) Department to carry out scientific and periodic independent inspections for all district roads and state highways by undertaking monitoring via in-house departmental engineers and empanelled consultant of National stature.
The quality control mechanism also defines procedures and timelines to properly govern preparation of realistic detailed project reports (DPRs); preparation of bid documents and effective selection process for procurement of works; quality control on material and workmanship through enforcement of technical standard; and quality control requirement by regular testing, close supervision and inspection.
The mechanism has provisions for ensuring preparation of realistic detailed project report (DPR) on the basis of detailed drawings and design, with adequate attention to investigations and pre-construction activities which are essential for proper design and estimation of the project as per standard IS, IRC codes of practice and as per JKPWD Engineering Manual 2021 and other guidelines issued by the department for time to time.
The third party inspection mechanism will also ensure preparation of bid documents and effective selection process for procurement of works, based on proven capacity and ability of the contractors in accordance with the relevant guidelines; constant monitoring of projects by undertaking on-site supervision, Quality Control measures including materials and workmanship, primarily through testing.
The new guidelines make it mandatory to conduct independent quality tests in accordance with the standard codal requirements and verify that the quality management system is achieving its intended objectives. They also prescribe non-release of payments to the contractors until works are inspected and graded satisfactory by the quality monitor.
The move by the administration has ensured that the private contractors who do not take the works seriously will have to be answerable for the jobs they have been allotted.
Though the move should have been ensured way back but the previous governments showed least interest in ensuring that the government money does not go waste.
KV News
