Six individuals, including five employees of the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB) and a private contractor, have been indicted by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) for alleged corruption and quality negligence in a housing project. The housing, intended for the victims of the 2015 Chennai floods, was deemed substandard, leading to a significant loss of 732 crore to the exchequer. The indictment underscores the need for stronger oversight and accountability in government-led construction projects, particularly those aimed at housing disaster victims.
Following a comprehensive investigation, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has indicted six individuals, including five former and current employees of the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB, formerly the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board) and a private contractor, for their roles in alleged corruption and quality control failures during the construction of residential buildings for victims of the devastating 2015 Chennai floods.
The DVAC's detailed probe, instigated by a reported discrepancy in accounts, unveiled a concerning lack of construction quality and compliance, leading to a monumental financial loss to the government purse of around 32 crores. The corruption and negligence allegedly took place during the construction of housing blocks at Keezhkathirpur, a project valued at 182 crores, aimed at resettling 2,112 families displaced by the Vegavathi River floods in Kancheepuram.
Among those implicated in the scandal are TP Devadas, a retired superintendent engineer, Mala, currently serving as the superintending engineer in the Chennai circle, K Raja, a retired chief engineer, T Sundaramurthy, an executive engineer in the Chennai circle, and P Thirupathy, a former assistant executive engineer now also in the Chennai circle. The sixth accused is Saran Prasad, a representative of BR Infrastructure, the private contractor engaged in the project.
The indictment alleges that the accused parties aided the contractor in securing undue profits while neglecting their responsibilities to ensure the structural integrity of the constructed dwellings, which spanned 33 blocks and exceeded 400 square feet each.
The TNUHDB employees, whose duties included inspecting and confirming the construction's compliance with standard procedures, are accused of neglecting their responsibilities. DVAC officials cited multiple instances where their structural quality control (SQC) wing advised rectification of structural faults, recommendations which were allegedly ignored.
In conclusion, this revelation of alleged misconduct within the TNUHDB and associated contractor brings to light a critical need for stringent supervision and accountability in government-led housing projects. As the investigation continues, it serves as a stark reminder that the safety and wellbeing of the citizenry must always be the primary concern, especially in the face of natural disasters and their aftermath. The justice system now carries the responsibility of ensuring that those accused are held accountable if found guilty, sending a clear message against such violations.
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