Sambalpur: A day after this newspaper published a report on irregularities in construction of a hockey mini stadium at Jujumura in this district, an expert team visited the construction site and conducted a probe into alleged irregularities, Wednesday.
Orissa POST had published a report titled ‘Stadium construction reeks of irregularities’ September 29.
Vishal Kumar Dev, commissioner-cum-secretary, state sports and youth services department, expressed concern over the development and directed a probe into the charges. He sought a report after completion of the probe.
As a result, an expert of WAPCOS Ashok Mohanty visited the construction site and conducted a probe into the allegations. Project director Lalit Mohanty, district sports officer Ashutosh Nayak and Lakhsmidhar Mohanty of Madho Singh Hockey Academy were present during the visit of the expert. Notably, WAPCOS, a public sector unit, undertook the construction of the stadium but later leased it out to another.
Mohanty went around the stadium and directed the implementing agency to put up an information plaque at the project site. He directed to use quality construction materials like sand, stone chips as well as cement and iron bars of prescribed brands in the construction work. The concrete samples used in the roof laying work were collected and sent for laboratory examination.
He also asked the implementing agency to remain cautious while carrying out construction work so that no one will be able to bring up any allegations. He sought formation of a committee headed by the district sports officer and comprising local residents to oversee the construction works.
This apart, he directed to take photographs and video record the construction work. He also expressed resentment on the quality of construction works and non use of cement concrete mixture machine. Meanwhile, a delegation of residents met Mohanty in the stadium site and lodged their complaints on irregularities in construction works.
However, locals have raised doubts on the probe. They demanded an impartial probe by an independent body as the probe is carried out by the expert of a consultancy agency which has undertaken the construction work.
PNN