Engineer faces departmental action for segregating project

THE Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT) is preparing to take departmental action against senior divisional engineer Umesh Shrestha for violating the ministry’s directives. Shrestha has been found to have awarded contracts without inviting tender to user groups and other contractors by segregating a project into regional raods, tourist roads and roads linking business centres when he was the chief of the Division Road Office, Kaski, last year, according to two senior ministry officials. “We have sought permission from the Public Service Commission to initiate departmental action,” said one of the officials. The ministry has banned segregating a project into small packages, except for emergency cases for the last two years. The second ministry official said Shrestha assigned contracts worth over Rs 50 million to users’ groups against the policy of the ministry and Department of Roads. “While auditing five offices under the ministry, Division Road Office, Pokhara, was found violating the policy,” the official said. He said no “harsh” action would be taken against Shrestha, but a “letter of reprimand” could be issued as it would be the first action taken for awarding contract by segregating a project. This action, if implemented, will bar him from getting promotion for at least a year. In worst cases of irregularities, the government authorities concerned can even expel their officials from the service. If an employee is not satisfied with the action taking against him/her, s/he can appeal to the administrative tribunal. Shrestha, however, claimed that the decision of awarding the contract by segregating the project was taken after taking approval from the Department of Roads. “The decision was taken in emergency situation of Seti floods last year,” said Shrestha, who has now been transferred to the Department of Roads. “Over 30 people died of Seti floods last year. At that time, we had to build retaining walls to save roads and repair bridges.” Officials said project segregation has long been a source of corruption as it enables the project office to award contract without bidding. That’s why the ministry barred project segregation. Secretary Tulasi Prasad Sitaual said the ministry is determined to take action against its employees if they are found violating its directives.