A newly built road in Kharar, falling under the Mohali district, has become the centre of a major controversy after it started peeling off just days after its completion. This has raised serious questions about supervisory failures and the alleged misuse of public funds by senior officials of the Kharar Municipal Council.
Complaint Triggers High-Level Inspection
The issue came to light following a complaint by Arun Kumar, a resident of Kharar, filed on the Chief Minister's Public Grievance Redressal System (PGRS). The complaint highlighted the sub-standard construction of the road leading to Gurdwara Sahib Akali office and the proposed sports complex. Taking swift action, Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal constituted a three-member inspection committee.
The committee included Varinder Kumar Jain (Joint Deputy Director, Local Government Department), Khushwinder Singh from PWD (B&R), and Gautam Parihar (Junior Engineer, PWD B&R). This team conducted a physical inspection of the site on November 19, uncovering shocking construction defects and procedural violations.
Major Lapses and Technical Failures Uncovered
The inspection report revealed that the road, approximately 2,600 feet in length and 12 to 18 feet wide, was awarded to contractor Balwinder Singh with a three-month completion deadline. Despite officials claiming that proper estimates for Bituminous Macadam (BM) and Semi-Dense Bituminous Concrete (SDBC) were prepared, the ground reality was starkly different.
The committee found severe deviations from technical norms. Instead of proper layered construction, a seal coat was applied immediately after laying the sub-dense bituminous (SDB) layer, bypassing standard curing and rolling procedures. Visual inspection also identified multiple obstructions like electric poles, trees, and water pipelines dangerously close to the road, indicating poor planning.
Further defects included misaligned joints of interlocking pavers, causing wrinkles, and inadequate rolling of road edges which weakened the shoulders. Most damning was the finding that over a 400-foot stretch between a stationery shop and ward number 2, the freshly laid carpet had already segregated and uprooted, signalling premature structural failure.
Officials Held Responsible and Action Recommended
Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal stated that the enquiry found major lapses and gross negligence on the part of the Municipal Council's Executive Officer (EO) and Assistant Municipal Engineer (AME). "Their role in the construction of a road which peeled off within a few days of its completion is suspicious," Mittal said, citing serious supervisory lapses, misuse of municipal funds, and financial loss to the government exchequer.
The committee fixed direct responsibility on Executive Officer Sukhdev Singh and Assistant Municipal Engineer Suresh Kumar for failing to enforce technical standards and supervise the work. Their negligence reportedly led to potential fund misuse, financial loss, and damage to administrative credibility.
An action taken report has been submitted to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Local Government Department in Chandigarh, recommending departmental disciplinary proceedings against both officers. The DC has also directed urgent re-carpeting and rectification of the damaged road as per prescribed specifications to prevent further public inconvenience and wastage of taxpayer money.
