Corruption in construction industry highlighted

A girl offers lemon juice to social activist Anna Hazare after he called off his hunger strike during a campaign against corruption in New Delhi April 9, 2011. Hazare called off his hunger strike on Saturday after most of his demands were met by the government, which said it intends to introduce the Lokpal bill during the monsoon session of Parliament, local media reported. - REUTERS

There is urgent need, therefore, in the first place, to frame stringent laws, rules and regulations that should govern awarding of contracts for executing various building construction and other projects. Next, the ubiquitous element of politicians’ dabbling in these matters has to be completely eliminated. The process of supervising the construction and certifying the completed work has to be streamlined.

by Milinda Rajasekera

(April 12, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) As a politician with a reputation for being down-to-earth, Minister of Youth Affairs and skills Development Dalles Alahapperuma has drawn attention to a matter that has caused much public concern. He has said it is regrettable and a matter of shame that the development of the construction industry has been stunted owing to corruption and quality failure.

Speaking at a ceremony held after laying the foundation stone to start work on the construction of a swimming pool at the Dikwella Vijitha Maha Vidyalaya, the Minister has further said that no public construction could be carried out in Sri Lanka without greasing the palms of several officials at various stages.

In the present context of political party rivalry, no other ruling party politician would hazard a statement of this nature because they fear that such comments would provide ammunition for the opposition to attack the government. But Minister Alahapperuma, being realistic and less given to pugnacious politics, has considered it his bounden duty as a responsible government politician to focus attention on hurdles that obstruct development. In contrast, what most other ruling party politicians do is to faithfully follow the practice of glamorizing all government policies and actions while castigating those followed by opposition parties, instead of approaching national issues realistically with a view to rectifying the actions and policies found to be defective and inimical to national progress. ‘Yes’, and ‘of course’ men and women are aplenty in the present administration. They cotton up to powers that be for positions and personal gain.

This problem of fraud, corruption and profligacy in administrative activity is indeed not one of recent origin. This has been a feature prevailing in different proportions under all regimes in this country. This scourge is not peculiar to Sri Lanka either. Some countries are worst affected in this respect. Our closest neighbour India is today embroiled in several scams compelling renowned social activists like Anna Hazare to resort to even death fasts against corruption in politics. Our country today witnesses this menacing octopus spreading its tentacles to most sectors in the country’s administration. In fact, no sector in the administrative system seems immune from its inexorable march.

Minister Alahapperuma, says it is a common thing for people to witness hundreds of abandoned or discarded newly constructed buildings in all parts of the country. How correct is he when he says, “These (buildings) are still to be opened or have been recently opened but already abandoned and in a neglected condition. We can find hundreds of buildings in this state all over the country costing billions of rupees of State funds to construct them. This is because the contractor has to pay bribes at various stages after which his concern is not to finish the construction of a good quality building but to save his skin by handing over a low quality building to the authorities. This happens in any construction, be it road development, construction of a housing scheme or a high-rise building.”

It is no secret that all those individuals and companies - national and international - that get involved in this construction work are not motivated by their concern for the well-being of the country or public welfare. As Adam Smith points out, they are prompted by their desire for profit. So, unless there is collective, cooperative and dedicated approach to this problem by concerned and relevant sections, the problem will continue to plague this country. The first and foremost, is the political authority. It is indeed the sordid role played by unscrupulous politicians that prepare the ground for the parasitic businessmen and contractors to thrive and make money at the expense of the country’s resources.

The businessmen enjoying political party patronage are offered the task of handling building construction and various other projects. Next, comes the fraternity of officials that is involved in processing paper work, supervision and approval of completed work. They look for avenues for serving their own selfish interests. At this stage, the contractors are seen taking an avuncular interest, particularly in the officers who approve of the completed work. They visit these officers in their homes and make various offers to win their hearts. They see various defects in their own houses and volunteer to repair or renovate them. Even the officers adequately endowed with high administrative principles often fall prey to these enticements. Finally when the stage for passing the construction is reached, the officer finds that he is unable to deviate from his obligation to okay the building however defective the construction is. This is how jerry-built state constructions are thrust on the people.

There is urgent need, therefore, in the first place, to frame stringent laws, rules and regulations that should govern awarding of contracts for executing various building construction and other projects. Next, the ubiquitous element of politicians’ dabbling in these matters has to be completely eliminated. The process of supervising the construction and certifying the completed work has to be streamlined. And above all, public vigilance and proactive attitudes have to be promoted if this problem is to be surmounted.