Corrupt Ways Leading To Poor Roads : PM

New Delhi, May 23 (UNI) Corrupt ways were cited today as ''a major reason for poor quality roads'' by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, whose government pledged afresh yesterday to protect whistleblowers-- insiders who expose corruption.

''I am concerned,'' Dr Singh told a conference on rural roads.

''We invest crores of rupees every year on road construction and maintenance, and yet with every monsoon our roads get worn.'' The Prime Minister said, ''a major reason for poor quality roads is corruption and the lack of quality assurance.

''Corruption in road construction projects has spread like cancer to every corner of our vast country.'' He voiced ''sincere'' hope ''we can'' implement rural road network ''without this affliction, and in a transparent and accountable manner.'' Critics say much of corruption goes unabated or unchecked because there is little by way of punishment to offenders.

The pledge to protect whistleblowers came in the United Progressive Alliance Report Card released yesterday on the government's three years in office.

''The government will be bringing a legislation regarding the public services to lay down public service standards, values, code and ethics, protect whistleblowers, provide for performance management,'' the UPA document said.

A proposal for legislation to protect whistleblowers has been before Parliament over the past several years.

Demands for such a law intensified four years ago when a 30-year-old director with India's National Highways Authority wound up dead in Gaya, Bihar after he exposed corruption in the Golden Quadrilateral highway project.

Satyendra Dubey had written a confidential letter to then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vaypayee about the ongoing 'Great Loot Of Public Money.' UNI MJ RP DB2016