Blame it on Maoists?

Hyderabad: It is almost four days since the pier numbers 19, 20 and 21 of block No 7 on the left bank of Medigadda barrage sank with a loud sound. Several doubts are now being raised on the reasons for the sinking of the piers.

The slabs and parapet wall on pier number 20 have sunk (Maharashtra side). But then even after four days, the officials are not able to explain why the piers have sunk. Was it poor quality of works as is being alleged by the Opposition or sabotage?

Even as the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) constituted a six-member committee to examine the reasons for the sinking of the piers, A Ravinkanth, Assistant Executive Engineer Medigadda barrage, stated in his complaint that while on duty on October 21 at around 6.20 pm, he had heard a big sound on the barrage.

He said that he had inspected the barrage along the road bridge with Bidyuth Debnath, L&T Foreman, and found some damage at pier Nos 19, 20 and 21 of Block 7 on left bank and slabs and parapet wall resting on pier number 20 (on the Maharashtra state side) are disturbed and sunk.

Police registered an FIR under Indian Penal Code (IPC), Section 427 for Mischief and Public Property (Prevention of Damage) Act, Section 3, was registered against unknown persons at Mahadevpur Police Station. They do not rule out the possibility of the role of the extremists. However, this complaint raises several new doubts, according to TBJP president G Kishan Reddy. After the incident, the government was trying to save the agency and put the blame on Maoists. He took strong exception to the Irrigation department’s attempts to escape in the entire episode.

He said a thorough probe into the possible design fault was a must. Experts say that if the foundation was anchored in sheet rock at the bottom of the riverbed, then there should be no impact “if sand shifts due to the river’s flow, or sudden flood." The Irrigation department suspects that the shifting of sand cannot be ruled out.

Congress leader T Jeevan Reddy said that unless the real cause of damage was identified and action taken, it appears that the barrage will be out of use.