Rajganj, 18th January: Residents of Panikauri in Rajganj have raised concerns over the use of substandard materials in the construction of a culvert on a local road. The culvert, which had previously collapsed, is being rebuilt under a government initiative. However, the locals are upset because they claim that broken rods are being used in the construction.
According to the residents, the road through Panikauri is frequently used by both pedestrians and a significant number of vehicles. When the culvert broke, a new one was being constructed. However, locals noticed that small pieces of rods were being welded together for the culvert’s construction, leading to their dissatisfaction. The residents staged a protest and demanded that the culvert be constructed properly with proper materials.
Priyabhushan Dey, the contractor overseeing the work, admitted to using broken rods in the culvert construction. He stated that the engineer concerned was aware of the situation and assured that the rods would be replaced if the engineer directed it. However, the engineer was unavailable for comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, Khageswar Roy, the MLA of Rajganj, stated that he was unaware of the date and details of the culvert’s foundation laying. He mentioned that he had only learned about the complaints of substandard work afterward and had instructed the contractor to show the work schedule for the project.