Trinath
Billyground, Apr 15: Once Monsoon hits these Islands, negligence of a private Contractor may causes suspension of ATR at Badamnallah Dera, in Middle Andaman.
The Andaman Trunk Road at Badam Nallah Dera area of Nibudera, Middle Andaman is under threat of collapse due to land sliding on the right side (while going towards Diglipur). According to reports, on the right side of the ATR one can see heavy soil erosion, which may even bring the ATR stretch down at any point of time.
Considering the threat the APWD had awarded a work of constructing ‘Counter Fort Retaining Wall” at Badam Nallah Dera to a private contractor in 2013.
But sadly after few months of work the said contractor stopped the work for reasons best known to him. Since last nearly one year no work was carried out at the site.
As everybody knows that by first week of May, Monsoon will hit Andaman and Nicobar Islands and in case of heavy rain the ATR stretch may collapse anytime.
When Andaman Sheekha contacted the engineers of APWD, they said that the APWD is trying to contact the contractor but he is not picking up the phone.
“Neither he is taking our call nor calling us back. The AE tried his number several times but got no replies,” said a senior officer of APWD.
Such negligence may kill hundreds of people during rainy days and hence either the APWD must impose fine on the contractor and give the work to someone else or the APWD must file a police complaint against the contractor. There is another easy option too for APWD i.e to sit and wait for the death of innocent people. Andaman Sheekha hopes that the APWD won’t choose the last option.
