Political bigwigs come under IRB scam scanner
Kolhapur based Kolhapur City Toll Virodhi Kruti Samiti have demanded a Maharashtra Govt probe into Rs. 220 crores IRBProject in Kolhapur City. The agitation, under the leadership of Baba Indulekar, started after IRB decidedto charge tolls on the streets of Kolhapur.
The temple town ofKolhapur which attract numerous tourists who visit the Goddess Mahalaxmi templeand then other sites, has often been hauled about its’ poor streets. Even thelocals complain that the roads have not been upgraded despite demands for severalyears.
Kolhapur Municipal Corporation too has notmade any provision in the budget to upgrade the roads and decided to appeal tothe state government to make provisions in the state budget. A tender wasfloated which was bagged by IRB making it the first time a single operatorwould develop and maintain all the roads in the city.
IRB began its work from 2008 with an agreementto complete the entire project in three years. A delay by the municipality torepair the drainage line and the water pipeline resulted in a delay in thecommencement of the project by IRB. spent in the project which implicate two ministers to fight the company’s decision to charge atoll under. The Samiti has many engineers who have pointed out that the IRB didnot follow norms while undertaking work. The company violated norms onfootpaths and not marking parking spots. Land given by the corporation was usedby IRB for the illegal construction of a five star hotel.
IRB began with its work without adequateplanning resulting in traffic jams in the city. Schedules were not followed.The company began work in various parts of the city simultaneously resulting ingreat hardship. IRB took 3 and half year to complete one stretch of road. A twoyear extension was granted following a request by IRB. Now, the company wantsto set up toll stations despite not completing the job.
The absence of a proper drainage system and afootpath which is a violation of the agreement resulted in the samiti gheraoingthe District Collector Appa Saheb Dhulaj. “Until the company finishes theproject and gets a certificate from the survey company no toll system will beimplemented” assured Dhulaj. .
Meanwhile, locals have demanded the details ofthe project from Maharastra Government and asked for the examination of thealleged role of two of its ministers in it.
