Graft nibbles at foundation

Instead of iron rods, logs are being used in the pilling for the boundary wall of Joypurhat Food Control Department's warehouse. Photo: Star

The floor of a warehouse in the Joypurhat district food controller's office has developed cracks, thanks to the use of substandard materials in the construction work.  
The construction works of five warehouses, which started two years ago, in the district's Kalai upazila have been completed recently. The Public Works Department in the district has been implementing the project involving Tk10 crore.
But the use of low quality materials has made the warehouses, each having a capacity of 1000 tonnes, vulnerable soon after the completion, sources in the PWD said.    
M/s Anam Traders was awarded the contract for the construction of two warehouses involving Tk 4.8 crore, while M/s Pordhan Traders was given the contract for the construction of three warehouses involving Tk 5.2 crore.
M/s Anam Traders built the warehouse that developed cracks, the sources added.  
Under the terms of the contract, the company was supposed to use rocks for building the floor, but it used brick chips instead, said a PWD official, on condition of anonymity.
Irregularities were also detected in the construction of the boundary walls of the warehouses. As per the work schedule, the construction firms were to use column piling.
But they had been using logs that pose a threat to the walls' sustainability, said local residents.   
Dutu Mia, site supervisor of M/s Anam, claimed that the construction of the walls had been going on as per contract.

Cracks appeared on the floor of the newly built warehouse. Photo: Star

Sources said Md Anwar Hossain, deputy assistant engineer of the PWD in Joypurhat, was officially assigned to supervise the works.
But a junior engineer of the same office, Md Harun Ur Rashid, had been supervising the project, the sources said.  
Allegations have been rife that both the construction firms used low quality materials, taking advantage of the implementing authority's nonchalance.   
After repeated attempts over the phone, this correspondent could not reach either Nazir Hossain Pordhan, proprietor of M/s Pordhan Traders, or Manik Mia, proprietor M/s Anam Traders.
Contacted, Anwar Hossain, the supervisor of the project in documents only, said he had learnt about the irregularities, and come to know about the cracks.
Salah Uddin Ahmed, executive engineer of Joypurhat PWD, said tough measures would be taken against the contracted company and concerned official if they were found responsible.