Kerala - Pathanamthitta   

Sand-mining blamed for collapse of embankment of Kaippattoor bridge

Staff Reporter

Riverbed has gone down by two to three metres in the area

PATHANAMTHITTA: The collapse of the right embankment of the bridge across the Achencoil river at Kaippattoor near here on Tuesday morning is alleged to be a fallout of indiscriminate sand-mining in the vicinity of the bridge. It was nine years ago the old Ranni bridge across the Pampa river collapsed in similar situations.

The abutments of the Kaippattoor bridge commissioned in 1961 were strengthened only two years ago.

Indiscriminate sand-mining has been on at the vicinity of the bridge for the past few years despite protests from local people and environmentalists. It is alleged that the so called sand mafia unleashes terror on those who oppose the activity. The riverbed has reportedly gone down by two to three metres in the area.

The River Bank Protection and Regulation of Sand Mining Act prohibits sand collection from the 500-metre radius of bridges and pumping stations of the Kerala Water Authority. The Act permits sand mining only 10 metres away from riverbanks.

The incomplete check-dam in the downstream had also posed threat to the safety of the concrete structure, according to experts. The whirlpools that formed near the bridge when floodwaters hit the incomplete sub-surface structure also had weakened the embankments, they say. The caving in of the embankment was also due to the erosion of soil through the gap formed in the rubble structure, they say.

Pampa Parirakshana Samiti general secretary N.K. Sukumaran Nair alleges that the incident is a testimony to the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities in checking illegal sand-mining. The incomplete check-dam of the Water Resources Department used to alter the water current pattern in the vicinity of the bridge, thereby weakening its embankments.

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