The rehabilitation programme drawn up by the Government of Maharashtra is unprecedented in magnitude covering relocation of 52 "A" Category villages, 22 "B" Category villages involving construction of about 28,000 houses, repairs, strengthening and reconstruction of almost 200,000 houses, improvement and reconstruction of about 300 Km of roads, 160 Cross Drainage works, repairs and strengthening of 18 major and minor bridges, repairs and strengthening of 212 KT weirs, 125 percolation tanks, 92 dams and 584 irrigation building, 3 major water supply schemes and 9 historical monuments. A project of this magnitude also required close monitoring of the quality of work at various stages of activities. The concept of Quality assurance and Technical Audit was derived in the first quarter of 1995. This was probably for the first time that independent third party Quality Assurance and Technical Audit Consultants were deployed to monitor quality management of a large-scale civil engineering project in India. The Government of Maharashtra appointed Lea Associates South Asia Pvt. Ltd. as the consultants for Quality Assurance and Technical Audit. The objectives were to verify that:

• The project outputs/products are consistent with the project objectives.
• The assets under construction or completed are of acceptable quality regarding workmanship and materials.
• Satisfactory procedures /tests are in place to ensure that the quality objectives are achieved.
• Technical solutions and design options, consistent with programme objectives are in place.
• The various outputs are in fact constructed as planned and in accordance with conditions of contract as appropriate.
• The degree of supervision provided is adequate.
• The degree of satisfaction by the beneficiaries of the assets created is satisfactory.

The consultants monitored the assets under construction and also the completed ones to verify that they are of acceptable quality in respect of material and workmanship. They ensured that satisfactory tests and procedures were in place to achieve quality objectives. Consistency of the technical solutions and design options with the programme purpose were thoroughly checked. The consultants verified that various outputs of the programme were constructed as planned and were in accordance with the conditions of the contract. They checked the adequacy of the degree of supervision. A continuous review of the level of satisfaction by the beneficiaries of the assets created was carried out. The consultants recorded the degree of quality control and its regularity exercised during construction through review of test procedures and suggested improvements. Independent testing of material and random technical audit was conducted on regular basis. The godowns for issue of steel and cement were visited regularly and their operations were also checked thoroughly. The consultants also ensured the incorporation of adequate earthquake resistant features in the structures. The component of training was also involved in this activity. Formal and informal training programmes were carried out on a regular basis. The training programme covered the aspects of quality management, eradication of common faults, correct construction techniques, discussion on technical problems, etc. The consultants prepared various guidelines and manuals. Rectification of shortcomings in procedures, practices, degree of supervision, quality of work and workmanship was given due importance by the Government of Maharashtra. Through the technical audit and quality assurance activity the government achieved excellent results. There was improvement in the degree of supervision and in material testing procedures. The suggestions of the consultants also resulted into significant savings in the project cost. Most of the defects and shortcomings pointed out by the Quality Assurance Unit had been rectified.

There were two subsequent earthquakes in the project area of lesser but significant intensity. The first one was on the 14th December 1995 and the second was on the 10th November 1996. A detailed survey of new works was carried out. By and large no damage was seen in most of the villages. On the whole the quality status of each sub-component under the MEERP is satisfactory.