Dimapur, August 10 (MExN): The chairman of the State Planning Board Neiba Kronu today contested the Border Roads Organisation’s reasons given for the bridge at Sidzu collapsing. Kronu issued a rejoinder today.
The rejoinder said he held a ‘review meeting’ and the Pfutsero Town Committee, public leaders and civil organisations to ‘analyze’ the issue. He noted the “poor workmanship” and “use of substandard materials especially in RCC works” as detected by the PTC on National Highway-150.
According to the SPB chairman, for any major construction of bridges, a site is selected and investigations for soil stability of the abutment or foundation are carried out. So also for High Flood Level (HFL) or velocity of flow of the particular stream or river and the catchments area are checked. This is to withstand the stability of the bridge structure, he said.
The agency is also supposed to cast the concrete base to support the propping structures of scaffolding or “shuttering” as there is no original or proper rock formation at the base, Kronu said. “Hence, the question of scouring is inevitable since the propping were placed on the ordinary soil with only a simple wedge,” Kronu contented.
Over the reason of overloading as stated earlier, Kronu said the road was supposed to be designed according to the National Highway standards of specification. The SPB chairman sought clarification on how much load NH-150 is “designed to carry, and how long does it takes to design a new bridge as it has already been more than two years since the bridge has collapsed.”
“…the collapsed bridge is yet to be cleared and therefore as stated by the BRO that the bridge side being cleared does not arise as till today it is lying as it is,” Kronu said.
He said that the PTC and “NGOs” as well as the PWD had met the BRTF at Dimapur, Kohima, Chizami and Jessami on some occasions and conveyed to them that they are willing to extend all possible help if any problem comes up while executing the work. “However, it has been brought to our knowledge that not even on single occasion did they tried to liaise with the PTC/NGO/PWD in this matter,” Kronu said.
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