Uttarakhand: Case of Malan river bridge collapse reached CM: Ritu Khanduri met CM, Dhami assured vigilance inquiry
Vidhan Sabha Speaker Ritu Khanduri told CM Dhami that the bridge built by the Public Works Department in the year 2010 with an amount of about 12.50 crores on the Malan river in Kotdwar area got ruined in just 13 years. Due to the collapse of this bridge, 38-year-old Haldukhata Kotdwar resident Prasanna Mohan Dabral died untimely. Ritu Khanduri said that Prasanna has a 6 year old son and a 3 year old daughter. Not only this, 2 other people were also injured in this accident, which is a matter of great sadness and disappointment for the government.
Ritu Khanduri raised questions regarding mining
Vidhansabha Speaker Ritu Khanduri told the rampant mining on the river as the main reason for the collapse of the bridge. It is said that in this regard, from time to time, he held telephonic talks with local officials, high officials and secretaries of the government. Along with meeting personally and through correspondence complained about uncontrolled mining in Malan, Sukro and Khoh rivers in Kotdwar. But his words were ignored. Ritu Khanduri said that this was the reason that there was a threat to the existence of the bridges built on these rivers. Due to uncontrolled mining, the bridge built on Malan river collapsed in just 13 years.
The Assembly Speaker said that this bridge connects Kotdwar and Bhabar. Thousands of families living in Sigaddi, Jhandichowd, Kalalghati and Kanv Ashrams have lost contact with Kotdwar due to non-availability of the bridge. Not only this, the industrial sector may also have to bear the brunt of this.
Action should be taken against the culprits
Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri urged Chief Minister Dhami to investigate the incident. He said that in view of the adverse impact on the industrial sector including thousands of people of Kotdwar assembly constituency, a high-level inquiry should be conducted by the vigilance department. Along with this, during the mining period, demanded strict action against the guilty officers of the responsible departments after investigation. The Assembly Speaker talked about the early construction of a 300 meter span double lane RCC bridge over the Malan river between Kalalghati-Mawakot road in Kotdwar area. Also asked to demolish the dilapidated and closed suspension bridge located at Kumbhi Chaud.
CM Dhami assured vigilance investigation
Chief Minister Dhami assured to complete the proposals made by Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri regarding the construction of the bridge soon. Chief Minister Dhami accepted all the demands of the Speaker. Along with this, he also assured to investigate the reasons for the collapse of the bridge through vigilance in just 13 years. He said that the dilapidated and closed suspension bridge at Kumbhi Choudr will also be demolished.
