John Wilbert
Port Blair, July 09: The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has claimed that the laying of OFC work through open trenching has caused extensive damages to the highway stretch passing through Jarawa Area (Jirkatang to Middle Strait).
At present the BSNL is laying OFC across the NH4 through a private contractor but as per NHIDCL, irresponsible work by the contractor has caused extensive damage to the NH4 inside a Jarawa reserve area.
Meanwhile the NHIDCL officials have written a letter to the Divisional Engineer, Satellite Communication Projects, BSNL pointing out that the open trenching near to edge of carriageway, loose filling in trenches after laying of conduit, blockage of existing earthen drains and unattended Chambers dug in the vicinity of carriageway have resulted in extensive damages all along the highway (31 km 307 km).
The letter further said that the excavation near the edge of carriageway in 166 km falling of OFC by the contractor has been observed by the field staffs of NHIDCL, which is violation of guidelines issued by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Government of India.
The NHIDCL has also requested the BSNL to comply with the terms and conditions of their agreement, executed in accordance of MoRTH guidelines and has also requested to stop laying of any conduit through open trenching.
