SHIMLA: The State Level Committee on Employment Generation and Resource Mobilisation has raised a question mark on the functioning of public works department (PWD). In its report submitted to the government, it said, "It has been observed by the committee that quality of roads in the state is of sub-standard and metalling and tarring done do not last even for a year." It said there is wastage of huge amount of funds on maintenance of roads and buildings by the PWD.The report stated that quality of work is to be improved and suitable action taken against the contractors as well as the officers concerned, who are engaged or posted in areas where unsatisfactory construction work is found. "It is seen that no action has been taken by the department where complaints regarding unsatisfactory work has been made by the public," it added.It has been observed by the committee that in state PWD divisions of Sirmaur, Shimla, Mandi and Kullu districts, besides the tribal areas of the state, a huge amount of money has been spent on construction of retaining and protection walls just to oblige the public works contractors, because the margin of profit in these works is very high. These works should be done only where these is necessary and required on public demand, committee said in the report.It further pointed out that machinery which is available with the PWD is not used properly and huge amount of money is being spent on the maintenance of these machineries and vehicles. In the department, the repair work of these machineries and vehicles is being done outside the departmental workshops and fictitious and fraud bills are raised.While referring to the irrigation and public health (IPH) department, the committee observed that in certain IPH schemes, the quality of pipe and work is not up to the mark. It said that several water supply schemes, especially lift water supply schemes do not work properly after their commencement. It said that quality of the construction work of water tanks and reservoir is sub- standard. Pipelines are usually seen on the ground, which need to be dig under the ground at least two to three feet down, it added.The report said that several complaints have been made to the department, but no action has been taken. Suitable action should be taken in this regard. It has been observed that huge electricity bills are being paid by IPH department for running water supply and lift irrigation schemes, whereas, the water charges of water supply and irrigation schemes are almost nil or of a very small amount.The ommittee suggested that the charges of lift water supply and lift irrigation schemes should be increased in a phased manner, so that the burden of huge electricity bills and maintaining these schemes can be reduced.

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