Awaaz Foundation has alleged that illegal sand mining is responsible for weakening the bridge over Savitri river in Mahad city that led to the mishap that killed at least 26 persons.
Awaaz Foundation has alleged that illegal sand mining is responsible for weakening the bridge over Savitri river in Mahad city that led to the mishap that killed at least 26 persons. However, minister of state for home (rural) Deepak Kesarkar refuted such possibilities and said that sand mining in the river is done almost three kms away from the bridge.
On the other hand, a livid Ramdas Kadam, minister for environment, demanded to know whether the structural audit of the ill-fated bridge was done at the site or “within the cozy confines of the government offices”. Asserting that the incident was a “failure of the government,” he vowed that he would not spare the guilty officers.
Speaking with select mediapersons at Mantralaya, Mr Kesarkar, said that the buses and cars that were washed away by the gushing waters could be lodged in the pits dredged for sand.
The minister visited Mahad on Monday to review the rescue operation and extended by two days the ferry of choppers that have been deployed to find out dead bodies.
“Considering the demands of the relatives of the missing persons, the government has decided to extend the helicopter service to trace the dead bodies of the missing persons by two more days,” said Mr Kesarkar.
He added that the waters of Savitri river have now receded substantially and the rescue teams can now look for bodies that could be lodged in tree branches.
Earlier, noted environmentalist Sumaira Abdulali of Awaaz Foundation in a letter to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis argued that illegal sand mining is said to have weakened the foundation of the bridge across Savitri river near Mahad, causing it to collapse.
She argued that the Savitri river at Mahad is one of the many areas that is being misused to dredge massive quantities of sand. She said the sand mining sites may not be located directly near the ill-fated bridge, but when located upstream and downstream, they do pose a serious threat to its structural stability.
She demanded full investigation into the possible role of sand mining leading to weakening of infrastructure of the bridge.
However, Mr Kesarkar pointed out that the pillars of the bridge were left standing intact. “Pillars are intact and the upper portion of the bridge has collapsed. It proves that sand mining is not responsible for the mishap,” said Mr Kesarkar.
