Team Herald
PONDA: Criminal negligence on part of the Public Water Department (PWD) has come to fore after a man fell into a water pipeline valve chamber that was left open by the roadside at Bethora by the department workers late Friday night. Police have identified the deceased as Naryannavar Manohar, 43, a native of Belgaum.
Furious locals vent their ire against the PWD for leaving the water valve chamber open and opined that some barricades or signboards could have been placed at the site to alert the public about the impending danger.
They also demanded that those responsible for the criminal negligence should be brought to book.
Social worker Viraj Sapre stated that it was really sad that a man lost his life for no fault of his and called upon the WRD Minister Subash Shirodkar to take strict action against those responsible for his death.
It is learnt that the valve chamber was constructed and inaugurated two days ago by WRD Minister Subash Shirodkar to facilitate the supply of water from the Bethora junction to the Bethora Industrial Estate.
It is learnt that more such chambers are dug and left open all along the Bethora road that is used by thousands of road users.
Villagers have now demanded that the open chambers be immediately barricaded before more lives are lost.
Meanwhile the cross drainage nullah retaining wall has also collapsed near the road leading to Dattagarh Junction and has turned into another death trap for commuters.
