NewsWhore
06-24-2009, 11:50 AM
Politician Hector Rodriguez Pimentel, a PRSC party protege of the Fernandez government who heads the state Hydraulic Resources Institute (INDRHI), is at the center of a major press scandal.
On her Monday El Informe show investigative journalist Alicia Ortega of Channel 7 revealed a series of major overvaluations, up to 200-1,000% in works costing hundreds of millions under the responsibility of the department and the paralysis of construction works despite millions in payments by the state.
The TV program named the cases of the Los Toros Hydroelectric, where she questioned an undocumented disbursement of RD$66 million, and the retention of RD$563 million in a fund that should have been used for development projects in Azua. Furthermore, specifics were given of a RD$30.7 million construction for an underground drainage system, to which despite addendums that added RD$35.1 million to the original budget, and even when RD$43.9 million has been disbursed, the work allotted to Constructora Roca, is on hold.
Another specific case is that of the Santa Rita Dike in Guayubin, Monte Cristi, whose budget went from an original RD$15.9 million to RD$191.4 million after an addendum of RD$175 million. This work was allocated to Hermanos Yarull in a contract signed in January 2008, and the company has received more than RD$140 million, but the work is far from concluded.
Another case featured was an irrigation reservoir in El Llano, Peravia province, which was contracted for RD$26.1 million, but an addendum increased the budget to RD$40 million. This project is little more than a giant stagnant water tank.
Another project that seems to have been abandoned despite the disbursements that have been made is the support wall to control the waters of the Solie River near Jimani. This was contracted for RD$23.6 million, and the contractor has received RD$9.4 million, but work has stopped, with the contractor VHB never presenting cubic measurement proof of his work. Ortega pointed out that this is the same contractor responsible for rebuilding works at the Nizao channel. Those works increased from an original RD$23 million to RD$144 million.
Ortega says that the contention wall for the Jura River contracted for RD$13.8 million by the INDRHI, shows only advances in work for RD$2 million, according to expert Bienvenido Concepcion.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#6)
On her Monday El Informe show investigative journalist Alicia Ortega of Channel 7 revealed a series of major overvaluations, up to 200-1,000% in works costing hundreds of millions under the responsibility of the department and the paralysis of construction works despite millions in payments by the state.
The TV program named the cases of the Los Toros Hydroelectric, where she questioned an undocumented disbursement of RD$66 million, and the retention of RD$563 million in a fund that should have been used for development projects in Azua. Furthermore, specifics were given of a RD$30.7 million construction for an underground drainage system, to which despite addendums that added RD$35.1 million to the original budget, and even when RD$43.9 million has been disbursed, the work allotted to Constructora Roca, is on hold.
Another specific case is that of the Santa Rita Dike in Guayubin, Monte Cristi, whose budget went from an original RD$15.9 million to RD$191.4 million after an addendum of RD$175 million. This work was allocated to Hermanos Yarull in a contract signed in January 2008, and the company has received more than RD$140 million, but the work is far from concluded.
Another case featured was an irrigation reservoir in El Llano, Peravia province, which was contracted for RD$26.1 million, but an addendum increased the budget to RD$40 million. This project is little more than a giant stagnant water tank.
Another project that seems to have been abandoned despite the disbursements that have been made is the support wall to control the waters of the Solie River near Jimani. This was contracted for RD$23.6 million, and the contractor has received RD$9.4 million, but work has stopped, with the contractor VHB never presenting cubic measurement proof of his work. Ortega pointed out that this is the same contractor responsible for rebuilding works at the Nizao channel. Those works increased from an original RD$23 million to RD$144 million.
Ortega says that the contention wall for the Jura River contracted for RD$13.8 million by the INDRHI, shows only advances in work for RD$2 million, according to expert Bienvenido Concepcion.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#6)