Public money goes down the drain

Within a month of blacktopping, road dug up again

Notwithstanding government claims that development works were being executed in a coordinated manner, ground reality reveals a different picture. Within a month of blacktopping of Hyder Pora highway, the road has been dug up for drainage work.
As a part of beautification plan, the service road running parallel to the highway was recently upgraded. But this all lasted for no more than a month. For now the road has been dug up by Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) for completion of the “pending drainage work in the area.”
Sources said at least Rs five lakh have gone waste because of lack of coordination between various departments. “Drainage work should have been completed prior to the blacktopping. This is waste of public money,” said an official asking not to be identified.
The locals of Post Office Lane said recently the road was dug up just a day after blacktopping. “How can any department be allowed to waste public money?” the locals said adding even after macadamization the manholes have not been leveled.
“Because of unevenness the drive down the road continues to be risky even after blacktopping. Why doesn’t the administration look into the matter?” they questioned.  
Officials said the road was dug up when the District Development Commissioner Farooq Ahmed Shah was out of station.