23 Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation engineers fined Rs 53 lakh for bad roads in 2017

AHMEDABAD: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has imposed a fine of Rs 53.63 lakh on 23 engineers of its engineering department after their faults were found in a vigilance inquiry with regard to damaged roads during the 2017 monsoon.
The inquiry against 110 engineers took place on directions issued by the Gujarat high court, and AMC issued show-cause notices to 87 and fined them. In all, 23 engineers — eight assistant engineers, eight assistant city engineers, four deputy city engineers and three additional city engineers — were issued chargesheets. They were asked why a sum equivalent to six increments of their salaries should not be deducted from their pay.
In its bi-monthly progress report, which the high court had asked AMC to submit, AMC has stated that the vigilance inquiry and Phase IV departmental proceedings against these engineers were over and the civic body has imposed penalty on these erring 23 officers. The eight assistant engineers have been fined Rs 10.34 lakh; eight assistant city engineers Rs 13.36 lakh; four deputy city engineers Rs 12.88 lakh and three additional city engineers, Rs 17 lakh.
The city body was compelled to take action against its officers on directions issued by the HC in response to a PIL filed by one Mustak Kadri through advocate Amit Panchal complaining that city roads were severely damaged during the 2017 monsoon and the administration failed either to construct proper roads or to maintain them. In 2018, the high court issued various directions to authorities for proper upkeep of roads and also ordered action against those responsible for poor construction quality of city roads.