Road development freeze due to Douglas�s interference.

Monday , 18 February 2013

Officials have pointed out the two segments of projects originated for roads restoration in the Jaffna peninsula from the financial aid acquired from World Bank, due to political intervene will face danger of getting deactivated.

Road restoration for six roads for the total expenditure of 700 million rupees has completely got halted.

The period for this task is concluded from this year May month, but due to the selection of contractors which cropped by merged Ministers level political interference; all these assignments have come to a standstill.

In this state, if this situation continues for some more months, there is danger that this finance may get returned was pointed out by the officials.

Meanwhile the officials further pointed out, a situation may crop up in the future, that World Bank will not provide financial assistance for road developments to the north.

406 million rupees was allocated for the Punnalaikattuwan Puliyankinatriadei Road, Mallakam Punnalaikattuwan Eevinai road, Chandilippai Uduvil road, totally for the three roads.

300 million rupees was allotted for the restoration of Karainagar Sivan temple road, Velanai Suruvil road and Mandatheevu roads.

Euro the local Engineering Company was given the contract for the last quarter of year 2011 for the restoration of these roads and the contract should have been completed within 18 months.

But until last year end, even 5 percent of the restoration assignments by this Company was not completed. Hence the Provincial Road Development Department cancelled all the contracts on last year in the month of November.

90 million rupees was granted to the Euro Company as advance for the six restoration projects. However the relevant assignments were not carried out hence according to the instructions given from the World Bank, the contracts were cancelled. However renewal contracts for the road restoration was not at all granted still.

Due to the interference of Minister Douglas Devananda in this issue, queries were not requested for renewal of contracts hence it is pending.

Minister Douglas Devananda has forwarded a letter to Northern Provincial Governor requesting, the contract to be given over to the Euro Company.

Governor has accepted and has recommended the Local government provincial council Minister to handover the contract to the earlier contractor.

In this state in view of the advance money granted to the Contractor, according to bank security guarantee, a portion of the advance was handed over last week by the bank to Northern Province Chief Secretary Vijayalakshmi Ramesh.

But due to deviation to the rules and regulations, the check had been sent back to the bank. The reason is political interference was said by officials.

According to the approval obtained from World Bank, queries have been raised for these projects and if action is not taken to immediately transfer this to another contractor, in future, loan assistance for the Northern Province from World Bank will be a question mark was said by Provincial Council officials to "Udayan" press.

Even though the contracts were cancelled by the Provincial Road Development Department, by discussion with the relevant political leader, we got back was said by Euro Company Director Ramdas to "Udayan" press.

Jaffna people strongly condemned due to personal benefit, politicians are passing the ball in these development projects.

People urged the officials without dancing to the tune of politicians, in the proper manner to carry out the development projects in the north.

Monday , 18 February 2013