CANACONA: In a letter to the superiors, the Assistant Engineer, Canacona, had last month, informed that the gabion wall on the Charrasta-Mashem bypass, which collapsed on Sunday, was bulged and structurally unsafe.
Herald has in its possession of the copy of letter by the PWD Highways, Canacona on June 13, informing the Executive Engineer PWD, MVR Infra Pvt Ltd, TPF Engineer and contractors that around 100 mts gabion wall was structurally unsafe.
It was also brought forth that during a site inspection they observed that the around 6 mts high the wall built with gabion baskets to withhold the raised portion of the road was found bulged and tilted outwards. The contractor was directed to rectify the same at the earliest to avoid failure of the same.
It may be recalled that Herald in its June 16 edition had published a report highlighting the fear expressed by the local PWD officials with regards to the gabion wall.
Activists and residents allege that the PWD and the contractor in contravention of the existing laws have filled the Mashem creek with mud upto 100mts and there is a demand to remove all mud and extend the 980-metre long Galgibaga-Mashem bridge by another 100 mts.
Locals say the work of the 7.74-km bypass link estimated to cost around Rs 272 crore which commenced in 2015, has missed multiple deadlines. Now, with the PWD raising apprehensions over the gabion wall safety and its collapsed portion, the work may be delayed further.
