Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 17, 2007
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Online edition of India's National Newspaper Saturday, Nov 17, 2007 ePaper |
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Tamil Nadu
MUTE TESTIMONY: The damaged portion of the bridge across the Amaravathy river. KARUR: People are unhappy over the continued neglect of the damaged new bridge across the Amaravathy river in Karur that has been waiting for repair for the past two years. During the flash floods in the river, the approach road to the bridge that was probably the first to be constructed under the “build, operate, transfer” scheme in the State, was damaged on November 24, 2005. The damage on the Thirumanilayur side of the bridge got worsened. Then a political hue and cry was raised, leading to the then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa to order a technical probe. Based on the findings, a high-level committee recommended a CB-CID probe and registration of a case against incumbent Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, among others. Significantly, Ms. Jayalalithaa also announced the abolition of toll collection at the bridge, reaping huge public support for her party that got translated into votes during Assembly elections in 2006 when her party won the Karur seat, the only seat it won in the whole of Karur district. But after the DMK came to power in the elections, cases against Mr. Karunanidhi, State Minister Ko. Si. Mani, former chief secretary C.S. Nambiar and bureaucrat Malathi were quietly withdrawn. Cases had also been filed against Abdul Rahman, Managing Director of East Coast Consultants and Infrastructure Limited, concessionaires who executed the project on BOT basis. While “undue haste” was shown in withdrawing criminal cases filed against politicians accusing of wrongdoings in constructing the bridge, the same eagerness was never shown in carrying out repairs, locals rue. Officials declared several times that the damaged portion would be set right “soon” and all vehicular traffic would be allowed but nothing happened. Lorries started to flout the order prohibiting heavy vehicles from using the bridge. No tangible measures were taken, except during last year when thousands of sandbags were piled up on the side of the damaged bridge to prevent erosion during monsoon. That was perhaps the last time officials took some steps to repair the damage. Motorists are forced to use only a part of the road. The other half remains damaged at the entrance of the bridge from Thirumanilayur side. Karur MP K.C. Palanisamy has been holding special meetings to redress grievances in his constituency. But the repair work that he and his party, the DMK, had promised to undertake is still pending. People expect him and the officials to act fast in repairing the bridge.
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