Chandigarh, April 5- As announced by the Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal, the State Government has established the 'Quality Assurance Authority' (QAA) in Finance Department to ensure zero corruption, improve quality control systems for engineering works and enhance quality control system.  The Authority will adopt a 1+4 Tier process for quality assurance.

A proposal in this regard was approved by the State Cabinet in its meeting held under the Chairmanship of the Chief Minister here today. The Authority shall consist of a Chairperson and two members.

The Chairperson will be a person who is or has been, an officer of the Government of the rank and equivalence of Secretary in the State Government or Engineer-in-Chief in the Central or State Government or a person who has experience in quality management with at least 25 years experience in Government or academician from an Institute of eminence & repute and will be appointed by the State Government.

Further, one Member will be appointed by the State Government from amongst officers in the State Government or any organization owned and controlled by the State Government of the rank of Chief Engineer or above. The Administrative Secretary of the Finance Department or an officer, not below the rank of Secretary to Government, to be nominated by him to represent him on his behalf will be a Member.

Powers and Functions of the Authority

The Authority will establish and notify norms and standards for quality and its management in engineering works and will notify norms and standards for accreditation of quality testing laboratories and centres.

The Authority will accredit quality testing laboratories and centres on basis of standards and monitor their integrity in the quality testing process and will establish norms and standards for internal quality assurance in engineering works carried out by State Government departments implementing engineering works and organizations owned and controlled by the State Government.

The Authority will monitor adherence to internal quality assurance standards by the State Government departments implementing engineering works and organizations owned and controlled by the Government.

The Authority will establish, accredit and monitor third-party quality assurance, control and management in engineering works by State Government departments implementing engineering works and organizations owned and controlled by the State Government.

The Authority will audit the internal quality assurance mechanisms in engineering works by State Government departments implementing engineering works and organizations and will also do audit based on complaints or directions from the State Government or the State Anti Corruption Bureau, the quality of engineering works executed by State Government departments implementing engineering works and organizations owned and controlled by the State Government.