Two suspended over poor building quality in Tamil Nadu's Kancheepuram

CHENNAI: Two government officers in Kancheepuram have been suspended over poor quality of tenements being constructed for the Irula community.
The Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department is constructing 464 houses – each unit at a cost of 4.6 lakh – at Uthukadu, Singadivakkam, Gundukulam and Malayankulam.
Since these units are scheduled for inauguration at the end of this month, district collector M Aathi inspected the site on Tuesday. She found that substandard materials were used and the quality of construction was also inferior. She warned the contractor that the matter would be referred to the notice of Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption if he didn’t fix the buildings. The collector had also issued notices to the government officers concerned seeking explanation.
On Thursday, two of them – Assistant Engineer Charulatha and field inspector Sundaravathanam – were placed under suspension as their explanations were not satisfactory. Replies are awaited from three others.
Though a video of the collector’s inspection went viral and received appreciation from various quarters, it did not go down well with a section of rural development staff, who went on leave thereby affecting work.