News Tamil Nadu

DMK Government Awards ₹100+ Crores Contract Despite Accusing Builder Of Substandard Construction

June 20, 2023
The Commune

The DMK-led government, which previously criticized PST Engineering Constructions for allegedly constructing substandard buildings in the Pulianthope KP Park housing board tenements colony, has now awarded the company a lucrative contract worth more than ₹100 crore for the construction of the Fintech City.

The first phase of the KP Park Scheme, consisting of 864 dwelling units spread across four blocks with stilt and 9 floors, began construction during the previous AIADMK regime. However, several months ago, residents began reporting issues such as peeling plaster and damages in common areas. In response, the Tamil Nadu Urban Housing and Development Board (TNUHDB) appointed the Centre for Urbanization, Buildings & Environment (CUBE) panel, a body jointly established by IIT Madras and the state government, to inspect the structure. Additionally, the board has enlisted the expertise of 10 educational institutions, including IIT Madras and NIT Trichy, to assess approximately 20 ongoing projects across the state, supplementing the efforts of third-party monitors already appointed to oversee construction quality.

The CUBE panel, known for their expertise in urbanization and construction, identified significant lapses in the construction of the KP Park tenements in Pulianthope. These lapses include the use of M-sand for plastering, raising concerns about the overall quality of the buildings.

In response to these findings, the DMK government vowed to take action against both the builders and the AIADMK ministers responsible for the poorly constructed KP Park buildings. DMK MLA I. Paranthamen raised the issue in a special attention motion in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, urging the government to investigate the involvement of former Chief Minister Panneerselvam, contractors, and other officials of the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB) in the substandard construction of the slum board tenements.

Rural Industries Minister T.M. Anbarasan, who inspected the site alongside HR&CE Minister P.K. Sekar Babu, assured the Assembly that the government would not remain silent on the matter. He emphasized that the Chief Minister would not hesitate to take action against anyone found responsible, be it officials or contractors.

During the inspection, Minister Sekar Babu announced that the government had decided not to award any new contracts to PST Engineering Constructions based on the recommendations of the expert committee.

However, raising eyebrows and sparking allegations of corruption and double standards, the DMK government has now awarded PST Engineering Constructions a hefty contract worth ₹250 crore for the construction of the new Fintech City in Nandambakkam, Chennai.

The DMK government was earlier called out for promoting Sundarrajan, the Executive Engineer (EE) who was allegedly an accomplice in the poor quality buildings of KP Park.

This latest decision has invited criticism from various quarters, questioning the government’s stance on holding the builder accountable for substandard construction while simultaneously awarding them a significant contract. The contradictory actions of the DMK government have raised concerns about transparency, integrity, and the prevalence of corrupt practices in the awarding of contracts.

As public scrutiny intensifies, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the allegations of favoritism.

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