DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
JAMMU, Jan 12
S Balvinder Singh renowned RTI Activist stated that amidst the prevailing practices in government construction projects, there arises a crucial need to address concerns related to defect liability periods of the works executed. As of now every government’s construction work carries the defect liability clause ranging from one year to three years whereby contractors ten percent amount of the bill is withheld for that defect liability period and is released only after the defect liability period is over. While fostering accountability, this practice highlights the essential requirement for transparent and accessible mechanisms to address defects.
Singh strongly urge the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory (JKUT) administration to take proactive measures in guiding engineers to implement visible provisions at construction sites governed by the defect liability clause. This involves installing informative boards, prominently displaying details such as the contractor’s name, Name of nodal officer along with his/her contact number & date covering the defect liability period. The proposal underscores the need for appointing a nodal officer in every department to facilitate a streamlined process for defect reporting. As per Balvinder Singh this groundbreaking initiative aims to empower the public, providing them with a direct channel to voice concerns about defects to designated officials through contact information prominently displayed on these boards. As one of the RTI reply of Balvinder Singh, revealed that in majority of the cases, where defects developed during the defect liability clause, concerned Junior Engineer has not reported the matter to the higher officers like Assistant Executive Engineer, Executive Engineer or Superintendent Engineer.
Singh earnestly request the Honourable Lieutenant Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha, to intervene and instruct Heads of Departments (HODs) in each engineering department, especially PWD (R&B), to promptly install these information boards.
This strategic step not only ensures timely defect rectifications but also nurtures a culture of transparency and accountability, ultimately benefiting citizens and enhancing the development landscape of the region.
