MNS chief, Sapkal lash out at Mahayuti govt: ‘Why was bridge not demolished or closed?'
Amid speculation of his party cosying up to the BJP ahead of the civic polls after he met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last week, MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Monday took on the BJP-led Mahayuti government over the bridge collapse on the Indrayani river at Talegaon in Pune district that left four dead and several injured.
'If this bridge was dangerous then why was it not completely closed to the public? Why was it not demolished and a new bridge built to replace it,' Thackeray asked.
After every accident, he said, 'there is a typical response from the state government that 'rescue work is underway and the state government is with the affected people. But why do these incidents happen?'
'There are so many departments in the government but what do they do,' said Thackeray, adding, 'Can they inspect the bridges ahead of monsoon and repair or close them if they are in a dangerous condition. Why those in power for long can't get the work done? What is the use of being in power then?'
The MNS chief said people should be alert and should not visit dangerous spots. 'This does not mean the state government's responsibility is less. People have to be alert if the state government is negligent in their duty,' he said.
State Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal said the deaths due to the collapse of the bridge over the Indrayani river took place because of the government's negligence. 'Why was the bridge, declared unsafe, still open when it was known that hundreds of tourists would visit Kundamala during the monsoon,' he asked.
He demanded that the government fix responsibility and file a case of culpable homicide against the officials concerned.
Sapkal said the government said funds were approved for repairing the bridge a year ago. 'Then why was the work not done for a year? Was the government waiting for an accident to happen? The administration said a 'board' declaring it unsafe was installed on that bridge but because of their lax attitude 55 tourists were swept away. While most were rescued, four were killed and six seriously injured. Who is responsible for this? Giving Rs 5 lakh each to the relatives of the deceased does not mean the government's responsibility ends there,' he said.
After the accident, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has ordered a structural audit of all dangerous bridges, Sapkal said, adding 'this is just a farce. Accidents happen, people die and the government gives them some money and forgets about it, this vicious cycle should be stopped.'
Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast.
Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste.
Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter.
Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read More
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Canadian dentist cremated in Lunawada
Vadodara: The only Canadian citizen aboard Flight AI-171 which crashed in Ahmedabad on Thursday was cremated in Lunawada in Mahisagar district on Monday. Dr Nirali Patel's body was brought to the town on Monday morning. Nirali, a dentist based in Canada, had come to India for a social function and was returning to Canada via London when the crash took place. Her husband, Dr Devesh Shukla, also a dentist, is from Lunawada. The couple had settled in Ontario. He had stayed back in Canada with their son. Devesh is the son of former Lunawada municipality president Tarlika Shukla, a Lunawada doctor, who was also in Canada when the crash occurred. Sources said Tarlika and her family have been closely associated with the BJP for a long time. Lunawada mamlatdar B P Khant told mediapersons that the deceased's DNA was matched with that of her parents. The body was then handed to relatives, who brought it to Lunawada on Monday morning. A funeral procession was taken from the Shuklas' residence to the crematorium. Many town residents and BJP members joined the procession, apart from family members.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
We are public servants, not rulers: Rajnath to BJP leaders
Bhopal: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Monday gave the valedictory address, concluding the three-day training camp for BJP MLAs, MPs, and ministers from the state. This was the defence minister's first visit to Madhya Pradesh after the success of Operation Sindoor . He said that MPs and MLAs should always remain connected with the organisation because the organisation was there even when the party was not in power. "Respect the workers and listen to them, because the real strength of BJP is the trust of the people and the hard work of the workers," Rajnath Singh said. "Serving the people is in our DNA, we are public servants, not rulers. Win the trust of the people and reach out to them first in times of crisis. Keep your thinking big, expand your vision. Work towards nation-building by taking the ideology of great men forward. Our aim is not to gain power, but to serve the people, so we never compromised on our ideas," he said. "Nation-building and ideology are of utmost importance for us. The ideal worker of Madhya Pradesh is one who never crosses the limits," he said. The Union defence minister said that the tradition of training in the BJP is continuous. "It is a part of the party's working style. Today the BJP is the largest party and has a distinct identity. But three things did not change in this development journey of the party. These are training, cultural nationalism, and the spirit of poor welfare," Rajnath Singh said. He said that the training camp is an opportunity for elected representatives to understand and assimilate the ideological journey of the party, and to introspect. Former BJP National President Rajnath Singh said that former Prime Minister and party patriarch Atal Behari Vajpayee said that the purpose of attaining power should only be for national service. Rajnath Singh also told the senior BJP leaders' congregation, "Do politics with decency, humility, and determination and remember that we are not just going to make or change laws, but also change people's lives. The post you got is really a big responsibility. It is for public service. It is to make India a powerful, developed, and inclusive nation." The Union defence minister said, "Developed India is not our goal, but our resolve. The country is moving towards self-reliance in every field."
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
To regularise illegal houses, Goa govt plans bill to bypass comunidade
Panaji: State govt is likely to introduce two different bills in the monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly, scheduled to be held from July 22, to regularise illegal structures on comunidade land and govt land. The govt, through the bill, will empower the administrator of the comunidade to decide on the application — bypassing the comunidade — to regularise the illegal structures on the respective comunidade, not exceeding an area of 300sqm. Initially, govt wanted to issue an ordinance, but as the assembly was being summoned, state govt decided to introduce bills in the monsoon session. In 2012, BJP govt tried to consider regularising illegal houses that were built up to the year 2000 on comunidade properties in Goa, but it did not see the light of day as no comunidade gave any no-objection certificates (NOCs) to applicants. State govt has started discussions, and already three meetings have been held to finalise how illegal houses and encroachments can be legalised on govt and comunidade land. 'We held three meetings. Govt will bring two bills to legalise illegal houses and encroachments on govt and comunidade land. There will be a few more meetings to finalise the bills,' a senior govt official said. The bills are likely to give powers to the administrator of the comunidade to decide on applications to regularise structures on comunidade land. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Powerful Yet Gentle Steaming by Philips Philips Garment Steamers Shop Now Undo In terms of govt land, the bill is likely to give power to collectors to regularise. Collectors will decide on applications and collect the market price amount for the land from the applicant. Once the money is paid, govt will issue a sanad. 'On comunidade land, the deputy collector will issue an order, collect the amount, and issue the sanad. The comunidade will not have any role to play, but the money will be deposited in the respective comunidade once the land has been regularised,' a senior officer said, noting that this is still under discussion. While some ministers are pushing to finalise as soon as possible, there is opposition from other ministers in the cabinet as it will encourage illegalities in the state. 'The govt wants to have a cut-off date of 2025, which means all the illegalities will be legalised in the state,' the senior official said. In his budget speech, chief minister Pramod Sawant decided to regularise illegal structures up to 1,000sqm in urban areas and 600sqm in rural areas by amending the Goa Regularisation of Unauthorised Construction Act, 2016. In 2012, BJP govt tried to consider regularising illegal houses that were built up to the year 2000 on comunidade properties in Goa, but it did not see the light of day. Similarly, in 2001, BJP attempted to regularise the illegal houses. The govt even issued a notification in 2001, but the effort was in vain because govt did not take comunidades into confidence. In 2001, govt said that the comunidade had to give a NOC to legalise illegal structures on comunidade land, but not a single comunidade gave an NOC to encroachers.
