Trinath
Port Blair, May 11: Inordinate delay in execution of a crucial construction project in North Andaman has exposed the residents of Basantipur to grave risk of floods and landslides during the monsoon reason. According to reports, the construction of RCC Counter Fort Retaining Wall from Govindapur bridge towards Badamnallah Dera was awarded to a private construction agency to protect the Andaman Trunk Road from slithering during rains between 218 km to 219 km by NACD, Mayabunder.
But due to the unfinished work and dumping of construction materials at the site has triggered fear of deluge and mud slides during rains. While the contractor passes on the blame to the revenue department for the delay, villagers of the area dread huge loss of property and lives due to floods and avalanches due to the blockage of the nallah.
According to the contractor of the project, the delay has been caused due to non-cooperation of the revenue department for providing necessary clearance for earth excavation works. “Huge quantity of earth is required to complete the work. But the revenue department has unlawfully restricted excavation due to which the work is being delayed. Construction materials and earth has already been dumped at the work site and requirement of more earth has already been placed before the revenue department, which is deliberately delaying the clearance. In case the revenue department continues its approach of non-cooperation, I will be forced to abandon the work halfway,” alleges the contractor.
“Due to the tussle between the contractor and the revenue department, the villagers here will suffer great losses if floods occur during the monsoon season. Huge quantity of construction materials and earth dumped at the site has blocked the entire nallah and during rains, floods and landslides are sure wreak havoc in the villages here causing severe loss to property and lives. Villagers will lose their homes if such catastrophe strikes during the rainy season. PRIs and villagers of the region are pleaded with the authorities to resolve the deadlock to ensure timely completion of the work to prevent any major calamity in the region,” several fuming villagers.
When Andaman Sheekha contacted the Tehsilder of the area, he said that the permission for fill earth from the extracted lot has already been given.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of North and Middle Andaman Zilla Parishad has also visited the site yesterday and spoke to the concerned officials from the site, who reportedly assured her to take requested steps as early as possible.
