ALLEGATIONS OF IRREGULARITIES IN CHHATH GHAT GATE CONSTRUCTION

ALLEGATIONS OF IRREGULARITIES IN CHHATH GHAT GATE CONSTRUCTION

7-NOV-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA----------------------------During the monthly board meeting of the Shahpur Nagar Panchayat, Councilor Babita Devi (representing Ward No. 09) raised serious concerns regarding the arbitrary actions of Chief Councilor Jugnu Devi. Alleging major irregularities in the construction of gates at the Chhath Ghat, Councilor Babita Devi submitted a letter to Executive Officer Shubham Kumar. She urged that the construction work be halted and demolished immediately, and that it be reconstructed to meet quality standards under the direct supervision of a Junior Engineer.

In her formal complaint, Councilor Babita Devi stated that the construction of entrance gates for the Chhath Ghat is underway in Ward No. 01 and Ward No. 10 of the Nagar Panchayat; however, the work is of an extremely poor standard and involves the use of substandard materials.

She noted that quality standards are being completely disregarded: the steel rods used do not meet the required specifications, and the pillars have not been excavated to the depth mandated by the regulations.

Furthermore, there are significant irregularities regarding the use of cement, raising concerns that the structure could collapse at any time due to its poor construction.

Regarding the gate in Ward No. 10 specifically, she pointed out that it is being built atop a large pile of waste, which further compromises its structural integrity and increases the risk of an accident.

The Councilor has strongly urged the Executive Officer to immediately stop and demolish the construction at both locations, and to ensure that the structures are rebuilt to the required quality standards in the presence of a Junior Engineer. Another serious aspect that has emerged in this entire episode is that no information board—detailing the estimated cost, the name of the project, or its specifics—has been installed at the construction site for the 'Chhath Ghat,' which raises significant questions regarding transparency.

Furthermore, the fact that work was initiated even before an official proposal for the project had been passed during a municipal board meeting has become a subject of discussion and curiosity among several public representatives.