Flood protection embankment damaged by contractors

ROOPNAGAR, Oct 14: Contractors quarrying at the Budhki rivulet, near here, have come under sharp criticism for allegedly damaging a flood...

ROOPNAGAR, Oct 14: Contractors quarrying at the Budhki rivulet, near here, have come under sharp criticism for allegedly damaging a flood protection embankment to pave way for the movement of trucks ferrying sand. In a complaint sent to the drainage department here, the District Congress Committee general secretary, Jagjit Singh Jagga, has cautioned against flood disaster if the contractors were allowed to ferry truckloads of sand through gaps carved out by them in the embankment.

Jagga, who also warned against destruction of crops in his complaint, held the drainage authorities responsible for laxity in keeping the illegal activities of the contractors under check.

Speaking to ENS, he charged the drainage officials with being under political pressure and “influential contractors’ lobby.” “We have information that the contractors are politically well-connected,” he claimed, and demanded that a case be registered against them for damaging public property.

A visit to the site revealed that the trucks hired by the contractors were swiftly ferrying sand through the gaps between the embankment, along the Roopnagar-Chandigarh highway.

Inquiries revealed that the contractors were earlier using the corridor of Singh village to ferry sand, leading to a protest by the villagers. The residents, according to the sarpanch of Singh village, Karam Singh, had refused to let the contractors use its corridor as it was severely damaged by the frequent movement of heavy vehicles to the adjoining Budhki rivulet.

This had forced the contractors to carve out gaps in the embankment, according to Jagga.

When contacted, the executive engineer of the local drainage wing, S.S. Ghuman, said these should not be misunderstood as gaps as the department itself has allowed the local residents to carve out ramps for smooth movement of vehicles. “These are temporary arrangements. We shall be able to fill the gaps before rains,” he assured. Denying there was political pressure working behind the entire episode, he however admitted that the destruction of embankment invites legal action.

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Adding that he had not received any complaint regarding the embankment being damaged by the contractors, Ghuman, however, assured to look into the matter.