No compromise on quality in govt construction works, strict action against negligence: Haryana CM

Chandigarh, Jul 14 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday said there will be zero tolerance for poor-quality government construction works, directing all departments to ensure that every public infrastructure project is executed strictly in accordance with prescribed standards and specifications. The departments concerned should pay particular attention to road layering and ensure strict compliance with the specifications laid down in tender documents. Strict action will be taken against responsible officers and employees if any negligence, poor quality, or violation of rules are found in construction works, the chief minister said. On the day, Saini chaired a review meeting of the Quality Assurance Authority (QAA) here to assess the standard of government construction works and the progress of technical audits being conducted across various departments. During the meeting, QAA Chairperson Rajeev Arora apprised the chief minister on the implementation of decisions taken during the previous review meeting, the progress made by various departments and the future action plan. He also presented technical audit reports on ongoing infrastructure projects across the state, supported by photographs and other technical evidence highlighting project planning, construction quality, compliance with prescribed standards and areas requiring improvement, an official statement said. The meeting primarily reviewed projects undertaken by the irrigation, public works, power and public health engineering departments. Saini directed that, in addition to auditing construction projects executed by state government departments, the QAA should also conduct periodic audits of construction works carried out by central public sector undertakings (PSUs) in Haryana. He said the Haryana government is committed to setting a benchmark with regard to quality of public construction by promoting better project management practices, fixing accountability and ensuring public money is invested in durable, high-quality infrastructure that serves public interest. Taking serious note of the shortcomings identified in the QAA audit reports, the chief minister directed all administrative secretaries and heads of departments to initiate time-bound disciplinary action wherever negligence or violations of prescribed standards have been detected. He also directed departments to rectify irregularities at the earliest to prevent similar issues in future projects. During the meeting, the QAA also made several recommendations to further strengthen quality monitoring and project execution. These include conducting social cost-benefit analyses and environmental impact assessments for major projects, linking contractor payments to quality performance, reviewing the Haryana Schedule of Rates (HSR) every six months and formulating a policy for ensuring quality and safety in private, particularly multi-storey buildings, the statement said. PTI SUN ARB ARB ARB