Two govt departments spar over Sasan – Mendarda bridge collapse

Junagadh: Two departments of the State government have blamed each other for collapse of a small river bridge on Sasan – Mendarda – Junagadh highway in Saurashtra region of Gujarat.

Road and Building department which is responsible for construction and maintenance of the highway and bridges claimed that R&B department had sought permission for repair of bridge on 19th of July this year. The forest department had given conditional approval on 9th of August this year and asked to execute repair and construction work only in the width of 9.75 meter. According to R&B department, the forest department had conveyed that approval from higher level will be needed for provision of diversion during the construction and repair work.

On the other hand, Gir West DCF of forest department said that the bridge was not at all located in forest area. It was very much in revenue area and therefore there was no need for approval of forest department. No application in this regard was received from R&B. According to Dhiraj Mittal, DCF of forest department, there are many bridges on Mendarda – Sasan highway and some of them were under forest department for which permissions were granted and works were also completed. The bridge that collapsed last week was in revenue area. No application was received about that particular bridge.

District collector Dr. Saurabh Pardhi meanwhile said that he had sought technical report from R&B department. Once the report is handed over to Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), probe and actions will be initiated.

Tourism minister and district party leader Jawahar Chavda said that Rs. 34 crore works were approved for entire road linked to Mendarda. Investigation will be done that why bridge work was not taken up.

The bridge according to R&B section officer Milan Bharakhada collapsed after hit by flood water of Madhuvanti river in present monsoon. Its foundation slipped subsequently. The bridge was 60 ft long. It was constructed about 45 years ago. It was expanded in year 1979.

DeshGujarat