ZP members furious over pathetic condition of NH

The members of the Zilla Panchayat, irrespective of their party affiliations, were furious over the pathetic condition of the national highway stretch, which is filled completely with potholes.

At the general body meeting of the Zilla Panchayat here, they wanted to stop the toll collection as the Navyug Construction Company has failed to adhere to the agreement rules. The meeting also unanimously decided to convene a meeting with the national highway officials, the company's and the people’s representatives.

The issue was raised by Opposition leader in Janardhan Thonse. He said that the company has utterly failed to perform the responsibilities assigned as per the agreement. Added to these woes, the officials who are sent by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) are from out of the state, who evade the problem and refuse to take any action regarding the irregularities.

He said that the junction at Kallianpur has become an accident centre, with frequent tragedies taking place following the unscientific expansion of the road in the area. There is no bus shelter. A number of schools and colleges are there in the junction area. The students are finding it difficult to cross the road. There was a proposal to construct a foot overbridge, but no action has been taken yet, he said.

He stated that heavy rain has worsened the condition of the stretches.

Zilla Panchayat CEO Shivanand Kapashi said that the DC had called a meeting of the national highway officials. There is a committee comprising the deputy commissioner, national highway project director and the SP. The DC is following up the issue, he added.

Member Geethanjali Suvarna charged that there is no solution to the problem. The work on the stretch has also remained incomplete, she alleged.

Gururaj, independent engineer of the national highway, said that the NHAI has the role only to supervise and check the quality of work carried out. The Navyug Construction Company is under loss, he said.

Replying to his submission, MLA Raghupathi Bhat said that the toll gate was opened amild opposition from all quarters. Despite collecting the toll, the company wants to give up the responsibility of maintenance, which is not fair.

He said, however, when he spoke to national highway project director and the company representative in the area, both had assured him to take up the repair work. He insisted that the SP should withdraw the protection providedto the toll gate. The company has violated all the agreements in the deal, he charged.

Standing committee president Babu Shetty alleged that the DC had held a meeting last year, but in vain. The problems remain the same. The officials of NHAI who come to the general body meeting are irresponsible, he claimed. The MLA also threatened to stage a protest against the irregularities in the national highway work, if the company fails to set right the woes.