Delhi: Reconstruction of Raj House begins sans ‘work’ order

New Delhi: In a serious lapse, a contractor started work to demolish Rajasthan House in Delhi without a work order and his men misbehaved with a team of Government officials sent by the Chief Minister to inquire about the matter.

The State Government has selected the lowest bidder to give a contract for the demolition of the old building of Rajasthan house for the construction of new buildings. The successful contractor Aslam Builders had to deposit Rs. 1.72 crore of the security deposit as per the rules, but he deposited only Rs. 94.20 lakh.

In such a situation, the department did not give the contractor work order. Meanwhile, the contractor’s employees reached Rajasthan House and started demolition work three-four days ago. From there, the contractor took out several windows, doors and other items.

After a complaint reached Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, he ordered an inquiry and sent a team of officials to Rajasthan House.

The team, comprising GAD’s joint secretary Harsahay Meena, additional chief engineer of PWD VL Dhakad and one more officer, reached Rajasthan House on Monday and sought work order from the men of the contractor working there and asked them to stop the work.

The men misbehaved with the officials and abused them. The team then reached the residential commissioner Shubhra Singh at Bikaner House and lodged their protest.

Seeing the matter escalating, the PWD hurriedly got the remaining amount of Rs 86 lakh deposited by the contractor and issued him work orders immediately.