Bihar Government Takes Action After 10 Bridges Collapse
Image Source: PTI
After ten bridges fell in Bihar within two weeks, the government has suspended 15 engineers for alleged negligence. Show-cause notices were also sent to two construction companies, asking why they shouldn’t be blacklisted.
Since June 18, bridges have collapsed in Kishanganj, Araria, Madhubani, East Champaran, Siwan, and Saran. Four of these collapses occurred in Siwan alone.
In response, the government has started the process of blacklisting contractors and withholding payments to some. The water resources department suspended 11 officials, including executive, assistant, and junior engineers. The rural works department suspended four current and former engineers.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has demanded an inspection report on all under-construction and old bridges in Bihar within two weeks.
These incidents have sparked political debates. Building Construction Minister Ashok Kumar Choudhary blamed former Deputy CM Tejashwi Prasad Yadav for not having a solid bridge maintenance policy when he was the road construction and building construction minister. Yadav, in turn, criticized the current administration.
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