BRIDGE COLLAPSE IN BIHAR EXPOSES 'COMMISSION SYSTEM'

At least 12 bridges across Bihar have collapsed in the last three weeks.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

The series of bridge collapses in Bihar, attributed by the ruling party and their favoured bureaucrats to incompetent and corrupt civil engineers and contractors, has brought to the fore the “commission” system that is rampant in the state where for every government tender, a significant amount goes into the pockets of politicians and officials as commission.

Due to this commission system, which is not a new phenomenon or limited to Bihar, the contractor who ultimately gets the tender is forced to cut down on raw materials, use substandard materials, and compromise on quality expert advice so that he can earn money from the civil contract.

Civilian contractors, who regularly engage or used to engage with the state government, said that for every contact worth Rs 100, at least Rs 15-Rs 25 goes to officials and politicians as commission or “fees” to get the payment released. Of the remaining amount, the contractor has to keep a certain portion away for his own profit and the tender work is completed from the remaining amount.

By the last count, at least 12 bridges across Bihar have collapsed in the last three weeks. While some collapsed during the construction phase, a few collapsed due to lack of maintenance. These incidents, in which fortunately there have been no fatalities so far, have brought the spotlight on the “double-engine” government of JDU-BJP that is ruling the state.