HASSAN: The apathy of the Public Works Department (PWD) in repairing the Hassan-Dudda road in the district has become a bone of contention between the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Congress in the district. While the Congress is accusing the department of delaying the work "intentionally", the Janata Dal (S) is accusing the Congress of politicising the issue. The people of Dudda recently staged a protest against the indifference of the department in repairing the road. The police had to resort to lathi-charge to disperse the agitators. Four persons were injured and few vehicles, including those belonging to the police were damaged in the incident.

While the Congress is accusing the Janata Dal (S) of "terrorising" the villagers, the Janata Dal (S) is charging the Congress of inciting the people. The road between Hassan and Dudda, which was in motorable condition till 2004, has worsened after over-loaded mine lorries started plying on this stretch. According to superintending engineer, PWD, Chidanand, despite the department inviting tenders five times, no contractor came forward to take up the work. The tenders were invited to repair 694 km of State highways in two packages. While the work taken up under second package was progressing at a good pace, work on the first package, which includes the repair on two State highways in Arsiker taluk had not progressed, as contractors were demanding a higher rate. The 40-km stretch between Tiptur and Dudda was facing a problem, as the contractor was not prepared to take up the work since he would be responsible for its maintenance for the next three years, he added.

Refuting the claims of the PWD, Congress leader and former Information Minister B. Shivaram alleged that contractors were not coming forward, as there was a delay in clearing the bills. He alleged that while the Government was taking up work on repairing every State highway in the district, the department was not interested in completing the Tiptur-Dudda road, as it was represented by Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party legislators.

Janata Dal (S) leader Shivalinge Gowda wanted to know what prevented Mr. Shivaram from taking up the work during the Congress-Janata Dal (S) coalition Government.

He said work on the damaged stretch would be completed in the next 15 days, failing which Janata Dal (S) workers would resign from the primary membership of the party.

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