D J Venkatesh
Diglipur, June 30: The crucial Bailey Bridge, that connects Ward No. 8 area of RK Gram with Khudiram Pur village is facing serious threat of total collapse as the retaining wall supporting the Bailey Bridge has fallen down recently. According to experts the due to heavy flow in the river, the area requires only Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) Retaining Wall and not Precasting Cement Concrete (PCC) Retaining wall but for reasons unknown the concerned Panchayat Samity had issued work order to construct a PCC retaining wall in the area.
As a result within six month the retaining wall collapsed, threatening the Bailey Bridge, which if collapsed, nearly 1200 villagers will get totally disconnected from rest of the world.
The Condition is so bad that people now fear to cross the said bridge with three or four wheelers.
When Andaman Sheekha contacted the Assistant Commissioner of Diglipur he assured stringent action against the offenders. “The water of the river take a sharp turn hitting the particular wing wall so as per rules the wall should have been RCC not PCC. Strict action will be initiated against the offenders” Assistant Commissioner of Diglipur Mr. Vivek Kumar told Andaman Sheekha after visiting the site.
Meanwhile it has been learnt that the work order for construction of the said retaining wall was worth nearly Rs. 14 lakhs and surprisingly Rs. 10.50 lakhs has already been released to the contractor, who is now refusing the reconstruct the retaining wall.
“How can I reconstruct the wall when I had carried out the work as per their diagrams and work order?” questioned the contractor.
This is a classic example how tax payers’ money are siphoned off by politicians, public leaders and senior officers of A & N Administration for which common man has to ultimately suffer.
Andaman Sheekha hopes that the Lt. Governor will intervene into this matter and order a thorough probe so that those who are responsible for such wastage of tax payers’ money are punished.
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