கர்னல் கணேசனின் அகத்தூண்டுதல்கள் -
Col.(Retd.) P. Ganesan
அகத்தூண்டுதல்கள்
வியாழன், 8 செப்டம்பர், 2016
Assistant Garrison Engineer.Service(March1968-May 1970)
Shillong in 1968 was part of Assam. It is a hill station of North east India.
There was Chief Engineer, shillong zone, and under him Commander Works Engineers and Garrisson
Engineers were functioning.
There were two GE in Shillong, Maintanence and Project. Ganesan was posted to Maintanence GE.
Chief Engineer was also located at Shillong. With some local influence some body got Ganesan
posted to Project and the existing AGE,quickly handed over the charge and ran away.
Famous Ward's Lake in Shillong.
Construction works under contracts will always have elements of corruption and the loot is shared
by every one in the channel.
Construction documents like Work passing Register, Works Diary , work order were all kept and maintained not in
true sense but according to the wims and fancy of executing authorities.
Ganesan was posted as AGE Litekore Peak, the highest place in shillong. An unit of the AirForce under
HQ Eastern Air Command was located there. Lot of construction works were going on.
Ganesan started his work with great patriotic spirit. He called the contractors and end explained his
method of functioning. There was one major contract of Rs. One crore which was in progress.
32 Lakhs have been paid to the contractor.
Sub standard works and over payments to the contractors are the known problems for the
executives. So Ganesan called for joint inspection and stock taking of the project with the
contractor. This revealed lot of sub standard works and approximately 3 Lakhs over payment to
to the contractor.
In a running contract of One Crore, over payment of 3 Lakhs in the middle of the project is not
a big issue.
But Ganesan made it clear that "THIS OVER PAYMENT" will not be carried forward, since he is new
to the Works appointment and do not know the credibility of the contractor. And Ganesan being
single he will be always at the work site, and NO WORK should be carried out without his
permission.
The contractor who was a multi millioner perhaps felt some virous infection looked for
treatment from the higher echelones.
All documents and records show Ganesan is the " ENGINEER INCHARGE". If the engineer in charge
does not pass a work stage,there will be no progress.Obviously after Ganesan took over
the progress slowed down and there was no payment to the contractor.
At one stage about 10 truck load of shingles (small pebbels from river bed) were brought for
concreting. It was all full of red earth. Ganesan ordered to wash it completely and then only
concreting will be done. Instead of doing that contactor reported to the chief engineer and he
came for inspection of the site.
When ever any higher officials come for a visit Ganesan will display all site documents ,
contract aggrement and time and progress chart. This will display without any doubt that the
project is running very much behind schedule and standard of work is not satisfactory.
The Chief Engineer asked Ganesan why the progress is slow. Ganesan explained that it was a
contract work and the progress depends upon contractors interest. The substandard work and over
payment made earlier were high lighted. Ganesan also pointed out about rejection of the shingles
and perhaps contractor might have approached you to get it approved.
The chief Engineer looked pale as Ganesan hit the nail on the head. He fired the contractor for
slow progress and was about to leave. contractor requested him to see the shingles and approve.
The Chief Engineer was furious. He told the contractor in uncertain terms
"Look,Mr.X..Y........Ganesan is a military officer. If he rejects a material due to poor quality
you should have replaced it immediately. Please get on to the work instead of wasting my
time"and he left the site.
Ganesan had spent 2 years there and no payment was made to the contactor as the earlier over
payment was not made good.
Ganesan had gone to second SERVICES SELECTION BOARD for his permanent commission and he was
selected during this period only.
At the end of his tennure ARMY HQ ordered a court of Enquiry for the Delayed and Defective
works executed at HQ, Eastern Air Command. All most all the people were reprimanded .
Ganesan really felt sorry for all. He sincerely wanted to speed up the work. He can ask the
contractor to put 8 bags of cement instead of 10. But will his superiors support him.
Corruption cannot be controlled by one man. It will give negative result. It has to be in the blood of all.
INDIA is a great country. Thousands of years people from all over the world had come to India seeking knowledge and wisdom.
LET US RESTORE THOSE GOLDEN DAYS.
கர்னல் பா.கணேசன், B.Tech.V.S.M. ( ஓய்வு ) 044- 2635 9906, 2625 1968
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