Jaleswar: The second bridge across river Subarnarekha, said to be the lifeline of communication in Bhograi, Jaleswar, Baliapal and Basta blocks of Balasore district, faces danger due to rampant sand quarrying nearby it pillars.
According to reports, two influential sand traders have taken sand ghats on a five-year lease in Kantapal of Baiganabadia panchayat under Jaleswar tehsil. The traders have allegedly flouted all norms and guidelines as laid in the agreement.
Locals alleged sand is being mined from around pillars of the bridge with the help of excavators day in and day out, even though there is a guideline to mine sand far away from the bridge. The leaseholders have also thrown all environment norms to winds, it was alleged.
If this goes on, none can rule out collapse of the bridge one day or the other, locals lamented.
They said a disaster is waiting for lakhs of people commuting on the bridge. Thousands of buses, trucks and other vehicles pass over the bridge that connects Kamarda under Bhograi block to Baliapal main bazaar. It also provides connectivity from NH-60 to Basta. Significantly, the bridge has reduced the district between Jaleswar and Baliapal by 20 km.
Conscious citizens said this bridge which plays a vital role in the field of connectivity faces danger due to sand mining, pushed by an unholy nexus between traders and the mafia.
Locals had taken up the issue with the officials concerned of the tehsil, but to no avail.
Surprisingly, additional tehsildar of Jaleswar, Mahendra Kumar Behera, was unaware of sand quarrying near the bridge.
“If this has been happening, then it is very dangerous. The administration will take stern action against those responsible for such acts,” Behera said. PNN
