RTI reveals irregularity in number of road constructions in Mandi district

Right to Information (RTI) activist and prominent social worker Sant Ram has revealed that as many as 20 roads, constructed by spending more than `20 crore, in Seraj segment of the district are either not built as per detailed project report (DPR) specifications or some incomplete roads have been declared fit for traffic in papers, whereas these roads are not even fit for two-wheelers.

Ram said he obtained the information from public works department (PWD) and Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) for the comparative study and demanded inspection of the roads under the RTI Act from PWD to reveal the actual condition of the roads.

He added both the departments tried to hide the information in the beginning but he struggled to get the information and maximum information could be collected after filing appeal with state chief information commissioner, Shimla.

He also wrote to chief minister Virbhadra Singh and informed about the possible embezzlement of worth rupees crore in the construction of these roads but no action was initiated.

He added that few of these roads were not constructed up to the marks but shown completed in the papers and later on extra budget was spend in the name of repair works under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS).

Meanwhile, maximum of these roads were either dedicated or laid foundation stones by the previous government leaders in haste prior to the state assembly elections 2012.

Ram said he had served PWD department a legal notice through his advocate Deshraj Sharma to complete the roads according to the approved DPR without extra budget or he will file petition against the anomalies and possible embezzlement in the Himachal Pradesh high court.