Road caves in 3 days after construction, Barnala residents fume

Tribune News Service

Barnala, July 12

A portion of the Barnala-Moga road has caved in within three days of its construction, raising serious questions about the quality of material used.

Barnala residents staged a protest against the Punjab Government and demanded thorough investigation and strict action against officials of the Public Works Department (PWD), and Building and Roads Department.

‘Awaiting funds to complete work’

We had opened the road temporarily. We are waiting for Rs98 lakh payment from the sewerage board to build the road. It is an under-construction road and it caved in as we had not used proper material on it. — Pardeep Singla, SDO, PWD (NH)

Bhinder Singh, a resident of the area, said: “When the road was being constructed, some area residents had asked the contractor to use proper material and also informed the officials concerned about the issue, but in vain. Now, after a short spell of rain last night, the road has caved in. The Chief Minister should order a high-level inquiry and get a case registered against all officials as they have misused government money”.

Some other residents alleged that officials had not checked the quality of material used by the contractor. “A fatal accident could have taken place had it happened during normal days as it is a busy road. The use of poor-quality material is evident from the fact that the road could not survive even for a week,” said Gagandeep Singh, another area resident.

Meanwhile, Pardeep Singla, SDO, PWD (NH), denied the allegations.

“We had opened the road temporarily as its construction was not complete. We are waiting for Rs 98 lakh payment from the sewerage board to build the road. It is an under-construction road and it caved in as we had not yet used proper material,” Singla added.