Thiruvananthapuram: In an attempt to introduce a unique model of social audit, a corporator in Thiruvananthapuram has roped in the services of experts from an engineering college to ensure quality of the civil works the civic body undertakes in his ward.And it has started working, too. CPM councillor of Kunnukuzhy ward of Thiruvananthapuram corporation I.P. Binu says a team lead by a teacher in the civil engineering department of Government Engineering College Barton Hill has picked holes in a work in its first inspection. The team led by C.J. Kiran conducted a strength test and found that four slabs being constructed for covering the drains at RC Colony here were of low quality. The councillor has now informed the corporation engineer the same and demanded that the slabs be replaced.
“Works including construction of road, anganwadi building and drain and maintenance of ward office worth around Rs 1 crore are underway now,” said Mr Binu. “I know nothing about construction. Soon after being elected, I happened to meet Mohammad Iqbal, a DySP of the state police, who educated me about the types of corruption that can happen in civic work. I then requested the principal of Barton Hill College to help us out.” The college team, which comprises three students, too, is happy as it gave them a practical lesson on the basics of civil engineering. “This initiative can be emulated across the state,” Mr Binu said.
