Jammu Mayor detects ‘blunder’ in culvert, talks tough to Executive Engineer

‘For what you are paid if elected public representative finds technical fault’
Why public should suffer for Engineering Wing of JMC has not applied mind: Mayor
‘Public should now teach those parties which opposed PM’s strengthening of Local Bodies’

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: Stressing that the Urban Local Body will now prefer smart works over civil works, the Jammu city Mayor, Rajinder Sharma on Saturday along with senior BJP leader and Councillor of Ward number 69, Gurmeet Kour Randhawa started work of a culvert in Sainik Colony area which shall be completed with an expenditure of Rs. 16.51 lakh.
The culvert, of which the work was started today, was earlier constructed at a very low level and due to this technical “blunder” the water during rains gushed into residential houses inflicting damages.
Taking a strict note of this technical fault, the Mayor issued standing instructions to the concerned Executive Engineer to raise the height of the culvert.
“Such technical expertise was expected from you (concerned Executive Engineer) but being a political person and an elected public representative (Mayor) I have to direct you to raise the level of the culvert for the convenience of the public,” the Mayor said after detecting major loophole adding: “If I have to do this (detecting the technical fault), then for what purpose the Executive Engineer concerned is paid for.”Mayor Rajinder Sharma, who is also General Secretary of All India Mayors’ Council and a senior BJP leader asked the Executive Engineer concerned to construct the culvert in such a manner that the water from road during the rainy days and that of drains also may flow beneath the culvert and the public should not be put to losses because of poor application of mind by the concerned persons of the Engineering Wing of JMC.
Mayor Sharma also issued instructions for the construction of ramp connecting the culvert and said that if any technical error in the construction work of the culvert is detected after its completion, it will straightaway invite strict action against the concerned Executive Engineer in form of explanation or any other strict action under the rules.
“I will personally check the culvert after its completion,” the Mayor maintained further directing the Engineer Wing of JMC to use quality material in the construction work and complete the work within scheduled time.
The strict instructions by the Mayor in wide public view to the concerned Engineer Wing of JMC triggered applauds for Mayor Sharma and his extraordinary working style form the prominent persons of the area who were present on the occasion to witness the start of developmental work.
Firebrand BJP leader and Councillor of Ward number 69, Gurmeet Kour Randhawa while speaking on the occasion said that development spree in entire Jammu is in full swing under the visionary leadership of Mayor Rajinder Sharma.
She said that entire BJP team is working tirelessly to fulfil the dream of PM Modi for development in every nook and corner of India.
Prominent among those present on the occasion Inderjeet, Komal, Veena, Rajinder Kour, Capt Hardyal, Rajvir Singh Jastotia, I.N Dhar, G.S Bhau, Rajesh Bhadwal, Narinder Slathia, J.S Saini, Vikas Gupta, Ram Sharma, Tarsem Sharma, Raina-Wing Commander, Onkar Charak and Santosh Jasrotia.
After this the Mayor started lane and drain work in New Plot area of Ward number 16 (his own Ward) which will be completed with an expenditure of Rs. 27.86 lakh.
“When I was only a Councillor, I had a vision to make all the lanes and drains of my Ward afresh and now when all this has been successfully done, public is surprised that apart from lanes and drains there are street lights installed in every nook and corner of the Ward and sanitation there has also improved a lot,” he continued.
Out of contentment the Mayor told a few reporters who had visited him that initially that while an annual budget of Rs. 20 crore for all the 75 Wards was there initially in the year 2018 but now JMC spends Rs. 157 crore per year on developmental works.
“Just imagine these large scale developments which have been materialised only after the vision of PM Modi about empowering of Local Self Government,” Sharma further said adding: “While all political parties barring BJP had objected to this vision of PM Modi that time but the public enjoying such developments today may now take a decision about those political parties for their objections for remarkable developments and teach such parties a lesson in coming polls.”