A private firm, Level9 Biz Private Limited, has denied the Punjab government claim that its report led to the collapse of three gates of the Madhopur barrage, which resulted in devastating floods. The company, which was awarded a ₹14.1 lakh contract, asserts that its scope of work was limited to a “design flood study” and did not include assessing the structural integrity or health of the barrage gates.
Disputed Mandate
The Punjab Water Resources Department served a show-cause notice to the firm, accusing it of submitting an “inaccurate and misleading” report. However, in its reply, Level9 Biz stated, “It was not my mandate or scope of work to check the strength of the barrage’s gates.” According to the company, the contract was only for “design flood studies,” which involved computing the 100-year return period flood and the probable maximum flood for the barrage.
The firm also highlighted that its report, submitted in December 2024, was approved by senior government officials, and it had been paid in full for the work.
Company Profile and Expertise
A review of Level9 Biz’s website shows that its previous projects and services are primarily in civil construction, including building dining halls, community centers, and EWS housing. The company’s owner, Yashbir Singh, an IIM Indore and PEC Chandigarh alumnus, has defended the firm’s competence by stating that he has worked with organizations like WAPCOS and has retired government chief engineers on his panel.
He maintained that a structural strength assessment is a separate, more complex task that could not have been covered by a ₹14 lakh contract.
The controversy has now led the government’s water resources department to launch a detailed analysis of the company’s report to determine its role, with officials acknowledging that the roles and responsibilities in the contract “were not clearly defined.”