Dhamnagar: People were panicked in Arjunpur panchayat under Dhamnagar block of Bhadrak district after a stretch of an embankment along river Baitarani sunk at the end of Kochila bridge near Taraisahi Friday. Last year, the embankment had caved in exactly at the same spot.
Even a few days ago, MLA Muktikant Mandal had directed the irrigation department to repair the sunken part of the embankment. The repair was still underway when a 50-ft stretch of stone-packed embankment caved in.
Locals have expressed their doubt over the quality of work. The construction of the nearby Kochila bridge was completed amid controversy and protests. Locals said that for lack of space, the rural development department constructed the wing wall of the bridge in such a way that it is always battered by floods. Floodwaters completely inundated the wing wall, making it vulnerable to possible collapse.
Now, the irrigation department wants the rural development department to remove the wing wall, but the latter doesn’t pay attention to it.
A few days ago, an embankment caved in near Shailo Lenksahi and its repair is underway.
Meanwhile, junior engineer of the irrigation department Kishore Das said the damaged embankment in Arjunpur will be repaired on a war footing.
PNN