Post News Network
Khaira, June 16: Several residents of Palasa and Dungura villages under the block in Balasore district Monday demanded a Vigilance probe into an incident where a portion of a bridge on Palasa-Dungura road caved in Saturday.
Interestingly, construction of the bridge near Palasa panchayat office was completed 10 days back under the ambitious project Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) incurring an expenditure of Rs 10 lakh.
“We would launch an agitation untill a probe is initiated ,” threatened villagers including Bimal Kumar Barik, Sushant Dash, Manas Panda, Laxmikanta Dash and ward member Khetramohan Barik.
According to reports, the stretch is one of the busiest routes in the block and was included under the PMGSY in 2013. Construction of the road as well as the bridge started in 2014 and it was scheduled to be completed by February 2015. However, the contractor who was awarded the project started the work after five months of the expiry of the deadline. Several irregularities were committed in the project, it was being alleged then.
A number of residents of Palasa, Nachhipur, Kudiasahi, Maliha, Goliha and Banasai villages are now led to suffer due to the poor work, the villagers rued.
When contacted, assistant engineer Trilochan Sahoo of rural development department said, vehicles started plying run on the bridge before it was completely ready for operation. This might have resulted in caving in of a portion of the bridge, adding that the contractor would be asked to take over the work and lay the bridge again.
