Three officials of the Panchayati Raj Department have been suspended for alleged technical flaws in the construction of the new building of Zila Parishad (ZP) after serious lapses were detected during an inspection.
The suspended officials are Executive Engineer (XEN) Parminder, Executive Engineer (XEN) Narayan Dutt and Junior Engineer (JE) Ramesh. The action was taken on the directions of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini after he was shown a presentation highlighting poor workmanship and technical shortcomings in the ongoing project.
Confirming the development, a senior official said that the three officers had been placed under suspension following instructions from higher authorities. The decision came after a quality assurance team inspected the construction site and reported several technical flaws.
During a review meeting held recently, the CM expressed disappointment over the poor work and directed the department’s Director to take strict action against all officials responsible for the construction. Following these directions, the suspension orders were issued.
The senior official said that XEN Parminder was previously posted at the project site, while XEN Narayan Dutt is currently serving there. The Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) associated with the project has already retired, whereas JE Ramesh continues to serve in the department.
The five-storey Zila Parishad building is being constructed in accordance with the Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) norms, with a focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility. The project, estimated to cost Rs 36 crore, began in October 2023. Although it was originally scheduled for completion by March 31, 2025, the deadline was later extended to December 31, 2025.
Once completed, the building will bring all divisions of the Panchayati Raj Department under one roof, replacing the current arrangement in which offices are spread across different parts of the city. Designed as a zero-carbon-emission facility, the building will operate entirely on solar energy and feature an advanced water recycling system for toilets, terrace gardens and lawn irrigation.
The ‘L’-shaped structure will house the offices of the CEO and Chairperson of the Zila Parishad on the ground floor, along with a conference hall and training hall. The first floor will accommodate the District Development and Panchayat Officer (DDPO), while the offices of the Superintending Engineer (SE) and Executive Engineer (XEN) will be located on the second and third floors, respectively. The fourth floor will include a rest house with eight rooms and an IT section.
