Kerala - Alappuzha   

Accidents: MLA flays official apathy

Staff Reporter

Wants murder cases to be booked against those responsible

ALAPPUZHA: Lambasting officials and the State Government for the continuing neglect towards the pothole-ridden stretch of the National Highway-47 that passes through the district, on which the fatal accident toll was rising by the day, K.C. Venugopal, MLA, on Tuesday demanded that murder cases be booked against those responsible for the condition of the road.

Addressing the media at the Alappuzha Press Club, Mr. Venugopal said he along with Aroor MLA A.M. Arif and Kayamkulam MLA C.K. Sadasivan had brought the dilapidated condition of the NH-47’s 95-km stretch in the district to the notice of the District Development Committee during its meetings in November last, January this year and April as well.

Though the district officials said the issue had been brought to the notice of the Public Works Department secretary, no action was taken so far. “Coir Minister G. Sudhakaran also raised the issue several times and wrote to the District Collector. The attitude of the officials and authorities concerned, including Ministers, even when people are being killed daily in accidents on this road, is shocking. Such people who have utter disregard for human life should be booked for murder,” he said.

Citing media reports on Tuesday about the rising death toll, Mr. Venugopal said an urgent meeting of Ministers-in-charge of the Home Department, the Public Works Department, Transport and Finance along with all officials concerned should be convened and decide on an immediate, concrete and scientific approach to curb the accidents.

“If funds are an issue, the Finance Minister also should be called for the meeting. Whatsoever it may be, this sort of neglect towards such a grave issue in the district from which the Chief Minister and two top Ministers of the State Government hail is shocking. Even the police have been unable to do anything to regulate the traffic here,” Mr. Venugopal said.

Pointing out that the law and order situation too was being threatened by the alarming rise in deaths on the road and that District Superintendent of Police E.J. Jayaraj had “failed miserably on all fronts”, he said the District Traffic Safety Committeehad not met even once in the last several months.

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