Kollam: For the second time since New Year, officials of the Kerala Public Works Department (PWD) have been suspended for conducting unnecessary road repair works.
State Minister for PWD, PA Muhammad Riyas on Saturday recommended action on the officials who were responsible for certain issues reported in the Ummannoor Panchayat near Kottarakkara here.
On January 3, an assistant engineer and overseer in Kunnamangalam at Kozhikode were suspended for sanctioning repair works on a road that was in near-perfect motorable condition.
According to the minister, the latest action was taken based on the report submitted by a 'special team' set up to probe unnecessary road works.
In a Facebook post, the minister said he came to know of issues with repair works on the Malavila-Pulikkuzhi Road in the Ummannoor Panchayat from media reports and complaints.
"The special team instructed to report on unnecessary repair works found the complaints to be genuine. Hence, I have instructed to suspend the officials who were pointed out by the PWD vigilance wing," said the minister.
Meanwhile, minister Riyas said the majority of PWD employees were doing a commendable job round-the-clock. "In some places, officials spend sleepless nights resolving traffic issues," Riyas said.
"As the minister, I have specially congratulated them. However, the department sees it as a responsibility to rectify wrong tendencies shown by a small group of officials who ruin the good work of the genuine employees and the department as a whole," said Riyas.
The minister has appealed to the public to notify him if similar issues are found elsewhere in the state.
