Public flays poor state of paver-block road in Dhakuakhana, demands investigation

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: The concrete paver-block road constructed from No. 2 Singia to Mandalchuk under Dhakuakhana subdivision of Lakhimpur district is getting damaged due to the impact of rainwater even before completion of one year of its construction. At present, the rainwater has damaged the road at various places causing massive rain-cuts. Moreover, both side land at the west-end of the only bridge of the road sank, developing many pits and holes. At this end of the bridge, the side beam of the road, being washed away by rainwater, is also getting damaged. Even the concrete pillars at both ends of the bridge, installed by the side of the road in order to check accidents, have also been washed away by rainwater. According to public charges, it is the result of the alleged low quality implementation of the construction work.

Notably, the 6.45-km long stretch of the road from No. 2 Singia to Mandalchuk was constructed with the investment of a fund amounting to Rs. 7,34,58,900 sanctioned under Package No. AS-15-262 from Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. The road was constructed by a contractor under Lakhimpur State Road Division of Public Works Department (PWD). The fund was sanctioned at first to construct the road with blacktop as per the estimate. But for unknown reasons, the road was later constructed by installing low quality concrete paver blocks. The local people alleged that the engineer and the contractor concerned had constructed the road by changing the estimate for their individual gain. They further alleged that the road was constructed without maintaining adequate size of side beams and without compacting the road by operating roller duly before installing the paver blocks. As a result of it, the road is getting damaged in various places day after day, as alleged by the local people. They have expressed resentment on seeing the road collapsing due to the impact of rainwater before completion of one year of its construction.

Despite such circumstances, the contractor and the departmental office concerned have taken no steps to repair the damaged parts of the road till date, though the contractor is responsible for the maintenance of the repair work of the road for five years. The local people have demanded the contractor and department to initiate steps for the same at the earliest for public convenience.

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