Vigilance probes alleged fund misuse in Calvim bridge repair

MAPUSA
The Vigilance Department conducted a site inspection of the Calvim Bridge in Aldona following a complaint alleging fund misappropriation, irregular payments and substandard repair work by the Public Works Department (PWD).
The complaint was filed by Devidas Panjikar, a resident of Corjuem, who accused PWD officials “including the Executive Engineer and Assistant Engineer “ of releasing payments to the contractor without completing the bridge repair work and without issuing a completion certificate.
According to Panjikar, documents obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act revealed that while the estimated cost of the bridge repair was around Rs 58 lakh, payments amounting to approximately Rs 69 lakh were made to the contractor.
“When questioned, the engineer claimed that only part payment had been made, but the records show that the full amount was released even before the completion certificate was issued,” Panjikar alleged.
He further claimed that the work was of poor quality, indicating possible collusion between the officials and the contractor for personal gain.
“The repair work has been done in a substandard manner. This clearly shows that officials and contractors have worked hand in glove,” Panjikar said.
Following his complaint dated October 29, 2024, the Vigilance Department initiated a probe and carried out a site inspection of the bridge to verify the claims.
Panjikar urged the Chief Minister to ensure a thorough inquiry and take strict action against the officials involved. He also demanded that the contractor be blacklisted for carrying out substandard work and that the local Aldona MLA take up the issue seriously.
“When tenders are floated, the work must be completed within the specified time frame and in accordance with the approved standards. In this case, not only was the payment made without due process, but the work itself has failed to meet basic quality parameters,” Panjikar said, calling for accountability in the handling of public funds.
The Vigilance Department is expected to submit its inspection report after completing its inquiry into the alleged irregularities.