Although the Hyderabad-based company has declared the collapse of a section of a flyover in Kolkata as an Act of God, news reports suggest that there is more to it than meets the eye. The collapse led to the death of 24 people with scores being injured. The ruling Trinamool Congress has come in for severe criticism and a political blame game is presently underway in Kolkata. The collapse is no Act of God, but a combination of many factors. The contract for construction of the flyover was awarded to IVRCL in 2009 with a budget of Rs 164 crore. But seven years later it is yet to be completed. It is now learnt that the company is saddled with a debt of Rs 10,000 crore and posted a net loss of Rs 2,000 crore at the end of 2015. Lack of funds and drop in confidence of labour has hit the company and the flyover. All these aspects will have to be investigated so that those responsible for the collapse and the loss of precious lives are brought to book. This is a serious issue and it is the congested area of Kolkata, where the flyover collapsed, which will have to face the brunt because all work on the project will now have to stop until the reasons for the disaster are established. The sooner this is resolved the better.
Puppets on a string
The imposition of President’s rule in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand is a notice from the BJP headquarters that they will use money, muscle and official machinery to destabilise assemblies wherever the opposition parties are in power. No other flag would be allowed to fly on the Vidhan Sabhas except that of the BJP or in partnership unless the opposition parties enjoy unquestionable majority as in Bihar and Delhi. The self-proclaimed nationalists have the purse to make…
