The Hindu : Pampa cleared of bridge debris

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 30, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Pampa cleared of bridge debris

By Our Staff Reporter

PATHANAMTHITTA MARCH 29. The debris of the old Ranni Bridge that caved in to the Pampa on July 29, 1996, were removed from the mid-stream of the river on Thursday amidst allegations of corruption in the award of contract for the work.

The debris dumped into the river during the demolition of the hanging portion of the collapsed bridge had been posing threat to the canoes operating in the river. Canoe men were hesitating to take their craft near the collapsed bridge fearing that the steel rods protruding from the debris would cause damage to them.

About 250 tonnes of reinforced concrete and iron rods had been dumped into the river when the hanging portion was cut down to facilitate the installation of a Bailey bridge linking the two broken ends of the collapsed bridge. The debris in the mid-stream had even diverted the river course, besides creating whirlpools in the strong currents near the existing piers of the collapsed bridge.

Experts say that the strong currents had been causing erosion of sand from the riverbed and caving in of riverbanks in the downstream.

Corruption alleged

The demolition of the hanging portion was undertaken by a Kochi-based private company at a cost of Rs. 11 lakhs.

The Kerala High Court had directed the PWD authorities to take steps to remove the debris from the river, disposing a private complaint filed by one M.P. Jacob Manimalethu of Mandamaruti near Ranni.

The PWD had given the contract to a private party to remove the debris a year ago at an estimated cost of Rs. 6.5 lakhs.

There were reports that the PWD had even cleared the part bill for Rs. 1,88,960 of the contractor by June 5, 2001.

However, the contractor had reportedly abandoned the work halfway and then the PWD had given contract to antother private party for removing the remaining portion of the debris at an estimated cost of Rs. 9 lakhs following the High Court intervention.

There were allegations of corruption involved in the award of contract of the Rs. 6.5-lakh work, that too half-finished, at a revised estimate of Rs. 9 lakhs after a gap of a few months.

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