Civil and Electrical work to be undertaken in identified Post Offices in Orissa Circle under Phase-V of Project Arrow during 2011-12 – Suggestions regarding

ALL INDIA POSTAL EMPLOYEES UNION GROUP – C

( Federated with National Federation of Postal Employees, New Delhi )

BHUBANESWAR DIVISIONAL BRANCH

BHUBANESWAR – 751 007

 To

The Circle Secretary

AIPEU, Group-C, Odisha Circle  & Vice President, CHQ

Bhubaneswar  G P O – 751 001

(P3orissa @rediffmail.com )

No. UN-BN / AIPEU-Gr.-C / 02 - 09 / 2011,                          Dated at  Bhubaneswar the 4^th September , 2011

Sub: Civil and Electrical work to be undertaken in identified Post Offices in Orissa Circle under Phase-V of Project Arrow during 2011-12 – Suggestions regarding

Dear Comrade,

You might be aware that 17 project arrow post offices namely Hijilicut under Aska Division, Kesinga under Kalahandi Division, Baliguda under Phulbani Division, Nimapara under Bhubaneswar Division, Binjharpur, Dharmasala and Marshaghai under Cuttack North Division, Balikuda, Barambagarh and Kujanga under Cuttack South Division, Banapur under Puri Division, Athamallick under Dhenkanal Division, Joda under Keonjhar Division, Kuchinda, Hirakudd and Rajborasambar under Sambalpur Division and Bonaigarh under Sundergarh Division  which are functioning in Departmental buildings have been selected by our Circle Office for carrying out infrastructure and branding activities under Look and Feel concept during the current financial year 2011-12.

Instructing the concerned authorities in this regard, the Chief PMG, Orissa Circle desires that action for preparation of civil and electrical estimate and issue of administrative approval be completed in advance ensuring the following points.

a.     Postal Civil Wing and Electrical Wing to visit these offices jointly and to prepare the estimates in accordance with the specification in the Blue Book in the presence of the Divisional Heads  and submit the estimates to CO/RO.

2. Existing Marble and granite counters found to be in good condition need not be dismantled. However, in specific cases, prior permission of Heads of Circle/Region may be taken.
3. Supply of new visitor’s benches and new steel dustbins needs to be included in the civil estimate.
4. Electrical and LAN cabling in the floor to be undertaken by Electrical Wing with assistance of Civil Wing at the time of Civil Work.

e.     The Electrical wing needs to prepare separate estimate for items like Name Board (External Sign Board) and Standee (Service Board) which are coming under branding items.

In this context, we would like to bring some facts relating to irregular civil and electrical works previously undertaken in different post offices and brought to our notice for kind appraisal to the Circle Administration to issue suitable and strict instructions to the approved contractors for undertaking such works correctly as per the original estimates / work orders.

Illustrating the case of Nimapara MDG, this is to inform you that after continuous discussion with the Divisional Head in the monthly union meetings for a pretty longer period, lastly the case of Nimapara MDG was recommended by the SSPOs, Bhubaneswar Division and considering the dilapidated condition of both the P O building and its post attached quarters inviting major civil works, Nimapara MDG was dequarterized temporarily for a period of six months with effect from 11.12.2009 or till completion of civil work by the Chief PMG , Orissa Circle vide C O letter No. Bldg. / 16 – 281 / 99 (Sub), dated 09.12.2009. But, during the specified period of six months, the required civil works could not be under taken. Thus, SSPOs, Bhubaneswar Division vide his letter No. D – 84 / Ch. II, dated 27.07.2010 requested for extension of dequarterization period till completion of civil work followed by reminder dated 27.09.2010. However, though late, Circle Office Vide C O letter No. Bldg./16-281/97(Sub), dated 04.11.2010 and dated 14.12.2010 accorded  administrative approval and expenditure sanction for undertaking electrical work for Rs..162562/- (for postal staff quarters in the the premises of Nimpara MDG) and civil work for Rs.443072/- (for post attached quarters and digging of a bore-well ) respectively. But during digging of the bore-well, the approved contractor, as known to this union used duplicate pipes of Oriplast make which invited the Oriplast authorities to file a case against the said contractor in Nimpara Police Station leading to arrest of the contractor. Subsequently , though the contractor was releaed on bail and started the work, the same was seized by the local police for some legal reasons and till date the civil works ordered as above are half-finished. Though the above fact is known to the civil wing including the circle administration, no action has yet been taken either to dequarterize Nimapara MDG nor to finish the leftout works. Contradictorily, the incumbents are suffering without getting admissible H R A. The incumbent,  namely Sri P K Hota,the then Postmaster, Nimapara MDG now Postmaster Grade - II Soepur under Bolangir Division has not been given his due HRA for the period from 13.05.2009 to 10.12.2009 and again from 10.06.2010 to 14.08.2010. Similarly, Sri Ashish Ku. Das, the then Postmaster Nimapara MDG and now Postmaster Grade II, NALCO Nagar under Dhenkanal Division has not been give his due from 01.10.2010 to 28.05.2011 for which they have given several representations to Circle office through their SPOs/SSPOs.In addition, the same situation may be faced by Sri Subhasisa Pradhan who has recently joined as Postmaster, Nimapara MDG. He may not also get his H R A unless the dequarterization order is issued by Circle Office. Intentional harassment to the devoted workers for the fault of others will no way satisfy the look and feel good concept in any manner.

And now again, the above civil and electrical works have been ordered to be undertaken. Who knows, the same contractor may not get the work and play mischief once again.

Similarly, the following construction / repairing works of Sahidnagar MDG ordered vide  C O Memo No. Bldg / 16 – 438 / 2003, dated 22.09.2010 are not up to satisfaction since some works as listed in the Abstract of Original Estimate have not been attended to  and some are yet to be completed .

a.     The door of the lavatory already facing the counter-hall was closed and an inside door was opened during the repairing. The flooring / plastering works and fitting of mirror in the lavatory are yet to be done.

b.    The concrete flooring work in front of the newly constructed cycle shed has not been done properly as a result of which the rain water is entering into the silt floor through the windows and destroying the records, forms  and bags stored there.

c.     Only 9 pieces of asbestos sheets have been used in roofing the newly constructed Cycle Shed and toilet for the silt floor staff as against 21 pieces of 6mm asbestos sheets estimated under Sl. No. 9.4 of the original Estimate.

d.    Removal of  F R P sheet roofing and re-fixing it  by necessary cutting with cement concrete  and nuts and bolts as estimated under Sl. No. 9.5 has not at all been attended to.

e.     Minor repairs to door shutters as estimated under Sl. No. 11.8 and 11.10 have not at all been attended to.

f.     Only one 10 liter capacity low level flushing cistern ( PVC ) has been fitted in the toilet for the silt floor staff as against  estimated 2 under Sl. No. 12.2.1 of the Original Estimate.

Further to intimate that neither any  completion certificate has been given by this Postmaster  nor the contractor / civil wing has ever asked for such certificate till date. Thus, it is not known, if the cost of 12 pieces of asbestos sheets, one piece of flushing cistern, repairing / labour charges estimated towards items under Sl. No. 9.5, 11.8, 11.10 have been paid to the contractor or not, at all  the bills are sanctioned in the mean time. As known to this union, the above irregularities have already been brought to the notice of the SSPOs, Bhubaneswar Division, AD ( Building ) and APMG ( Vig.) with request for a high level inquiry including the new Chief PMG personally by the Postmaster, Sahidnagar MDG during the visit of the former on 25.08.2011.

These are only two examples. If reports are collected, you must find similar irregularities in amny other offices where the civil works have been carried out recently.

Under the circumstances, we would like to give the following suggestions for appraisal of the Circle / Divisional administration so that the the civil / electrical works can be undertaken and completed as per the original estimates / work orders.

1.     While preparing the estimates and designing the site of a post office for project arrow purpose, the suggestions of the staff and Postmaster should  be given importance.

2.     The recent civil works done in Sahidnagar MDG  / Nimapara MDG and similar other offices may be enquired in to  before sanctioning the final bill in favour of the approved contractor with direction to complete the left out civil / electrical works at the earliest.

3.     A completion certificate of the Civil / Electrical work done as per the original estimates / work orders must be obtained from the concerned Postmaster before sanctioning the final bills.Under no circumstances, the bills be passed in the absence of such a certificate.

4.     The contractors doing such mischief should under no circumstances be allowed in future for carrying out any civil / electrical  maintainance / contruction works in the Department.

5.     Immediate dequarterization of Nimapara MDG and release of HRA to the incumbents noted above. Similar other cases like Nimapara MDG may also be settled immediately.

Hope, you will put your best effort  to appraise the Circle administration in regularizing the civil and electrical works  to be undertaken in Orissa Circle and giving justice to the staff members as well.

With greetings.

Comradely yours,

 ( B  SAMAL)

Secretary, AIPEU, Gr.-C

 Bhubaneswar Divisional Branch