Rs 5.53 crore deal to supervise All India Officers (AIS) Housing Scheme violates government order

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

A deal worth Rs 5.53 crore stuck by Tamil Nadu Housing Board with a private firm to supervise the construction of  1016 government servants residential flats at Nerkundram is against the government and TNHB norms, according to a audit report.

The audit report on the annual accounts of TNHB, which was tabled in the state assembly last week has picked up holes in the construction of the flats stating that Tamil Nadu Housing Board has violated the agreement entered with a Hyderabad based contractor to build the flats by entering into a supervisory contract with a third party.

The report said  TNHB has entered into an agreement with Indhu Project Ltd, Hyderabad to construct 1016 government servants residential flats. Similarly, it entered into Rs 5.53 crore agreement with Kerzy Eastern Limited as a third party to supervise the works recording measurements and check measurements in measurement books. The report states that this was in contradiction to the main agreement entered with Indhu Project Limited.

As per the main agreement, the original measurements of the completed works have to be done by junior engineers and check measurements have to be done by assistant engineers of the board which should be in accordance with the Public Works Department works manual. These measurements have to be signed by the junior engineer, assistant engineer in concurrence with the contractor.

“In contravention of this main agreement, the aforesaid works are being done by Kerzy Eastern Limited and the assistant executive engineer of the board countersigns these measurements recorded by the third party firm,” the report stated.

It also highlighted that there is no provision in the agreement or procedural rules to entrust the supervision works to the third party thus it is against the established procedures of execution of works by the board.

The report also stated that when eight junior engineers and assistant engineers of the board are posted in Nerkundram scheme where is the need for appointing third party supervisor in the scheme. “There is no provision in the TNHB works code to appoint third party to supervise the construction works of the board besides there is no precedent in the board of this nature even in the self-financing construction schemes. This is in violation of the works code and the established works procedures of the board,” the report stated.

“Even a government order has categorically stated that TNHB shall ensure quality construction by inviting major civil engineering contractors and avoiding petty supervision charges. The deal is in clear violation of government order and the contract entered for supervision and regarding measurements and check measurements is held under audit objection," the report stated.