HJS questions inquiry commission’s clean chit to officials in ‘Savitri river bridge’ collapse case

Inquiry Commission’s shocking findings- gives clean chit to all the concerned persons in ‘Savitri River Bridge’ collapse case

Who is then responsible for more than 40 people getting washed away in the Savitri River ? – question asked by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti

A bridge over the Savitri River had collapsed in the heavy rains on 2nd August 2016. Two buses and a car along with more than 40 passengers had been washed away in this mishap. The Inquiry Commission set up to look into this matter has given a clean chit to all the concerned persons with this case even though there are quite apparent grave mistakes of the Government administration. It is not a clean chit but shielding the guilty in this case and should be called ‘cheating clean’. This report is an injustice to the people who lost everything in this mishap. When a commission appointed for conducting the inquiry into a sensitive case is showing its insensitivity by shielding the guilty, who is then responsible for the deaths of more than 40 people washed away in the mishap, is a blunt question asked by Dr. Uday Dhuri, the spokesperson of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS). No action has been taken even after 5 years since the Savitri River mishap and a press conference was held by HJS at Alibag (Raigad) to voice its concern over the issue. Dr. Dhuri also made a demand during the press conference for a re-examination of the report by experts and taking stringent action against the guilty.

‘सावित्री नदी दुर्घटना’ (महाड, महाराष्ट्र) प्रकरण में जांच आयोग द्वारा सभी को ‘क्लीन चीट’ देने का प्रकरण !

…तो सावित्री नदी में बहे 40 से अधिक लोगों की मृत्यु का जिम्मेदार कौन ? – हिन्दू जनजागृति समिति का प्रश्‍न pic.twitter.com/fCMkXV2Sle

— HinduJagrutiOrg (@HinduJagrutiOrg) August 3, 2021

The then Government had set up a one-member inquiry commission with Retired Justice Shah of High Court as its Chairman to conduct a judicial inquiry into this mishap which submitted its report on 30th November 2017. Some of the serious points ignored by this Commission are presented here.

1. The condition of the bridge over the Savitri River was perilous but there was no board displayed on the bridge giving such warning; nor was there any indicator to show the water level during floods.

2. It was the duty of the police and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to patrol the area, but there was no patrolling in that flood situation. Police reached the place of the incident after some time.

3. A police officer, Mr Saste and an officer of NHAI, Mr Gaikwad have given witness to the Commission, of patrolling on the bridge in the evening of the day of mishap; then why they didn’t report about the increasing level of water and arranged for patrolling even at night; or informed their senior authority? The Commission has, however, not found the concerned officers as guilty.

4. The citizens who had crossed the bridge on the night of the mishap, so also the then sub-inspector of police Mr S. M. Thakur has told the Commission in their witness that there was no board on either side of the bridge; but NHAI officers had claimed that boards were put up for which they have even submitted the bills of contractors. The Commission has ignored the inconsistency observed on this point.

5. A citizen had noticed that the bridge had collapsed and he had immediately tried to call and inform the police emergency no. 100; but his call was not answered; therefore, police had to be informed through another means. This mishap might have been avoided had there was no delay.

6. Shiv Sena’s local MLA Mr Bharatsheth Gogavale had raised the issue of security of this bridge during the meeting of the Legislative Assembly. It was also suggested during the discussions held on this issue that the bridge should be closed for traffic; but why no action was taken on the suggestions?

7. An inspection of the bridge was expected to be carried out twice a year during the period 2012-2016 but it was done only once. When three officers i.e. a dy. engineer, executive officer and a superintending engineer were jointly expected to conduct the inspection, why was it not done even once?

8. The officer of NHAI told the Commission that repairs suggested by the then executive engineer of NHAI in 2005 were carried out during 2006-07 when these repairs were dragged out even in 2007-08 as shown in their register. Is this sloppiness or corruption?

9. It is necessary to cut down and carry out a chemical process on the trees growing on the bridge so that the construction of the bridge remains strong, but NHAI has failed in this aspect.

What is the outcome of setting up this Commission ?

A former Justice of the High Court, a secretary and a personal assistant appointed for his help besides a senior advocate were appointed as part of this Commission. Lakhs of rupees were spent on their salaries, allowances and office maintenance; still the Commission has not found anyone guilty in this case. More than Rs. 24 lakhs have been spent on the salaries and office expenses of this Commission. The Commission was appointed for 6 months, but it was twice granted an extension of 3 months. It was, therefore, hoped that the report prepared by the Commission would do justice to the aggrieved victims of this mishap. The remedies suggested by the Commission are, however, very basic, such as putting notice boards on the bridge, removing plants growing on the bridge, using paint to show danger marks for water-level etc. These suggestions would have been made even by any ordinary citizen. Where was then the need to set up a commission, is a question asked by Dr. Dhuri while exposing the working of this Commission.

Are we going to repair bridges only after such mishaps ?

In July 2020, the Accountant General of this country had noted that there was no planning for the maintenance of bridges. In August 2016, as per the Government’s statistics, 2635 bridges in Maharashtra required repairs. Till 2020, repairs of only 363 bridges were carried out. No notice boards are seen on the bridges at Nagothane, Roha, Revdanda, Kharpada etc in Raigad district even now nor is there any provision for proper lighting. The condition of bridges at Roha, Nagothane is very bad. No action has been taken even after 4 years on the recommendations made by the Commission after the unfortunate incident of Savitri bridge. It is, therefore, cheating citizens if Commissions were set up and no action was taken on their recommendations. It is now time to think whether the Government would be able to afford to again make a farce of setting up such Commissions after similar mishaps like the Savitri bridge take place and spend millions of rupees for giving clean chit to the guilty? Dr. Dhuri said that in the present adverse times, we cannot afford such carelessness.