Uttarakhand: In the matter of Malan river bridge collapse, the Disaster Management Secretary said – Department’s negligence, we are not responsible!

On Monday, Disaster Management Secretary Ranjit Sinha returned after visiting the disaster affected area in Purola. During this, he also put forth his side regarding the Malan river bridge that fell in Kotdwar. Due to the devastation caused by the cloudburst in Purola of Uttarkashi, the city has suffered a lot. Regarding this, Secretary to Chief Minister and Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey along with Disaster Management Secretary Ranjit Kumar Sinha inspected the spot. Ranjit Kumar Sinha, who returned after inspecting the disaster-affected areas in Purola, told that there has been a lot of damage on both sides of the drain falling in Purola market. He told that the safety wall of the entire drain has been broken. Agricultural land has also been damaged. It is a matter of honor that no one’s life has been harmed. He told that he will soon release the compensation amount to compensate for the loss, for which the process is going on.

The blame for breaking the Malan river bridge was blamed on the department

Apart from this, the Disaster Management Secretary, keeping his side on the controversy that started on the bridge collapse incident in the Kotdwar Malan river, said that a proposal had come to him on April 28 this year regarding the Kotdwar Malan river. The proposal was about four crores. The Disaster Management Secretary said that there is a provision of only Rs 75,000 for the repair of the bridge under the disaster relief item. Therefore, at the same time this proposal was replied by him that it is not possible under disaster management. Departmental action can be taken for this.

We are fulfilling our responsibility properly – Ranjit Sinha

The Disaster Management Secretary says that the reason for the collapse of the Malan river bridge is not disaster management, but departmental negligence. Apart from this, he also says that mining is happening continuously in the rivers. Also, the bridge was getting weak for a long time, due to which the bridge is broken. But there is no provision for this in disaster management. Disaster management has all the responsibilities of relief and rescue, which it is continuously performing.