At long last!

Op Saral Rasta : Road samples fail quality test; cases registered. 

The blacklisting and similar punitive actions should come from the government department concerned. We on our part have registered cases against the contractors for failing to adhere to the stipulated standards. 

- VACB officer

Kerala's Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has registered nearly two dozen cases after detecting irregularities during the multiple episodes of Operation Saral Rasta, a special drive intended to unearth malpractices in road construction in the state. The vigilance sources said samples from 200 roads were collected during the three legs of the drive. The samples were subjected to a quality test, of which 24 were found either using substandard construction materials or lacking the requisite thickness of bitumen.

The number of roads that failed the lab tests could go up further as more results are awaited. The lab reports, along with recommendations of the anti-graft body have been forwarded to the state government for further action.

The special drives had laid bare the reality that many of the roads were being built without following the directives of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Indian Road Congress.

The samples of the roads were taken by the Vigilance sleuths on the basis of the information collatedby its intelligence wing and through tip offs from the public.

If a contractor fails quality test in case of multiple samples, the vigilance will suggest blacklisting him and prevent him from associating with the government works in future.

Adapted from. The NIE

Tailpiece.

Got up at 5, the chores and set off for the Aspire Residential Public School, Perumbavoor for delivering my second motivational lecture.

After breakfast enroute, reached the school by a half past 9. Conversation with Fairuz Rehim, the MD and Anitha George, the Principal before beginning my interaction at a half past 10 was informative. I enjoyed the session thoroughly and there were many questions from the children.

Returned home by a half past 3. Siesta and the evening chores!