Purushottam Patra, Devbhog. The sarpanch and villagers are on a hunger strike over the problem of movement due to the dilapidated culvert on the Sukhtel river flowing in Amlipar of Devbhog in Chhattisgarh. Seeing their protest, the administration came into action and the construction of a diverted road from the bridge also started. But even after this, they are adamant on continuing their hunger strike.
In fact, a project worth more than Rs 7 crores to convert the dilapidated culvert into a high-level bridge has been hanging fire for two years. Many people who were forced to travel on the dilapidated culvert have become victims of accidents. In this matter, on the previous day, i.e. 6 August, regional MLA Janak Dhruv had gathered on the river bank with hundreds of villagers. On the instructions of the district administration, the SDO of the bridge department also reached there. During this, a heated debate took place between the villagers and the officer regarding the useless diversion road built 3 feet below the closed dilapidated culvert. Despite the anger, the SDO who reached the spot expressed his inability to build a diversion road citing lack of funds. But work has been started from this morning.
The villagers gave these reasons for continuing the protest:
Sarpanch Sevan Pujari, who was protesting, while explaining the reason for continuing the protest even after the work on the road has started, said that the administration often deceives by giving assurances. Therefore, the protest will continue until the work is completed. On the other hand, the police and revenue officials are busy convincing them. But people are still continuing the protest in their stubbornness to get the work completed.
Let us tell you that seven days ago, Amlipar Sarpanch Seven Singh Pujari had warned of indefinite hunger strike if the diversion road was not built on this culvert. The effect of which can be seen today. The construction work of the diverted road for movement has been started and SDO Santosh Kumar Pandole of the bridge branch is standing on the spot and getting the work done.
The pool was not completed in two years
After a lot of efforts, Rs 7 crore 5 lakh was approved on 31 March 2021 for the construction of a high level bridge on Amlipar culvert. A contract was signed with the capital’s contracting company AG Associates for the construction of the bridge and the work order was issued on 6 May 2022. After this, 5 pillars were to be built in the 150 meter long high level bridge, but not even a single pillar could be built.
In this case, the department accepted that the contracting company did not have sufficient resources, due to which it could not complete the work. Despite getting multiple extensions, the contractor could complete only 27 percent of the work. Due to this, the department also imposed a 6 percent penalty on the contractor and cancelled the tender in June and sent it to NIT for a new tender on 19 July.