In what smells strongly of administrative flip-flops and internal power games, the Public Works Department (PWD) has thrown 132 sanctioned civil repair and renovation works—each valued at ₹10 lakh—into complete disarray. All contracts were issued to labour cooperative societies at the start of FY 2025–26. Now, questions are being raised: what exactly is being hidden?
The projects were allotted in May under the mandatory provision that 33% of works go to labour societies. Allotment letters were officially sent via the District Registrar to cooperative institutions. However, soon after murmurs of corruption emerged, the PWD suddenly issued a directive to cancel all 132 works.
Not long after, facing backlash and whispers about “expenses already incurred,” the same department backtracked, rebranding the cancellation as a temporary stay. Insiders claim the confusion stems from turf wars between outgoing and current executive engineers, with contractors caught in the middle.
The situation has spiraled. 22 of the stalled works belong to the Raj Bhavan alone, with others covering high-profile government bungalows. Development work across key state properties now hangs in limbo.
Worse, sources reveal several contractors began work without official work orders, citing “good faith.” Their bills now lie unpaid, with no officer willing to confirm the unauthorized execution on record.
PWD has asked sub-divisions for reports, calling this a “review of utility.” But the sudden stop-start pattern, lack of transparency, and evasion of responsibility only deepen suspicions of mismanagement—or worse, cover-ups.
Meanwhile, crores in taxpayer money remain at risk.
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