‘Third-party monitoring’ highlights flaws in three Sindh government projects

KARACHI: The first-ever ‘third-party monitoring’ has found faults in three main completed projects of the annual development program in the Sindh province.

Sindh Government’s Planning and Development Department’s (P&D) Monitoring and Evolution Cell started the third-party monitoring initiative in 2023.

The task for monitoring and examining of three projects - Mithi to Diplo Road of 39 Kilometers, Infrastructure development of Industrial Estate, Larkano, and Establishment of Mehran University College of Engineering and Technology at Kahirpur - was assigned to M/s Mascon Associates.

The report of the third party monitor submitted to P&D Department, Sindh Works and Services, Industries and Commerce, and Universities and Boards stated that the contractors of the projects did poor work, compromised on quality and received overpayments of millions of rupees.

Third- party monitor recommended the Sindh government and concerned departments for the perusal of the report and necessary actions.

Sindh chief minister’s spokesman Abdul Rasheed Channa told The News that reports of the third party monitoring had been received and actions would be taken in the light of the recommendations as per the relevant laws against the responsible government officials and contractors.

Third-party observer spotted many flaws in ‘Mithi-Diplo Road’ project, which included rough surfaces in several areas of the road, damage due to erosion of shoulder and berms due to not properly leveled by the contractor, stone pitching, lane marking paint, cat eyes at site were not executed, concrete work on the all PCC protection and toe walls both sides at several places was of poor quality. Besides, the wing walls of the culverts were made at 90-degree angle and attached to the toe wall, which does not support the soil embankment and shoulder thus the soil is falling into the culvert’s inlet and outlet.

With regard to the project of ‘Infrastructure development of Industrial Estate, Larkano’ the third part monitor was of the view that the pavement was severely damaged due to poor backfilling of storm water drainage, settlements and cracks were observed in roads at various places due to flooding, the thickness of subbase course was measured at various streets, where it was found 3 inches opposed to 9 inches described, PCC and stuff paver were mostly damaged around the manhole, thermoplastic paint was used for lane marking which was found to be of very poor quality, the workmanship of concrete on top of manholes in several streets was found to be poor, precast cover of manholes in many streets were mostly damaged and of poor quality, epoxy paint was not applied on the exterior of the manholes in front and around the buildings, segregation and surface roughness were observed in the concrete work at several streets. In addition, the protection and toe walls were misaligned and deviated from the designed location, most of the manhole covers were found missing in many places, expansion and construction joints between Kerb stone and storm water were not properly constructed.

Besides, the tuff pavers around the plinth protection area have settled, the plinth protection is above the lower D.P.C, the grouting on the roof tiles was not done properly, cracks have been observed in flooring and block masonry in several areas, doors and door frames were found damaged in few buildings, aluminum windows were not properly sealed, and the quality of sanitary fittings was inferior, also generally tiles in bathroom were not properly fitted. Marble floorings were not polished in a few areas and cracks appeared in the flooring and settlements, and cracks were observed in the precast panels at various places, activities were not planned properly. This caused a significant delay in the project and the work was never completed in accordance with the contractor's promised schedule of work. Only 3019 Rft of boundary wall has been constructed at the site but 4000 Rft has been paid. Most of the boundary wall was constructed after the flood and at some places, the broken part of the boundary wall was also repaired but the amount has been paid against the reconstruction of the precast boundary wall, which is not correct.

In addition to the above, it has also been observed that there are major variations between quantities available at site and quantities paid in the measurement book (MB). The additional amount paid against incorrect quantities is Rs48 million approximately, furthermore, overpayments have also been made to two contractors without any security.