CWC points out anomalies in Rohmoria protection work

GUWAHATI: Although huge funds were allocated for protection schemes in Rohmoria to save the Dibrugarh town from Brahmaputra's decades-old erosion, anomalies in works were detected at the site recently by an inspection team of Central Water Commission.
After examining the report by CWC, Guwahati High Court issued an order to the state government to inform the court about progress of work at the site.With reference to a public interest litigation (PIL), the court of chief justice Madan B Lokur and justice A K Goswami of Guwahati High Court issued the order on May 31, asking the government to inform on the matter by June 27 this year. "Deputy commissioner Dibrugarh, who is chairing the committee, will submit a report on or before the next date of hearing," said the High Court order.
The CWC report submitted to the court said not even a third of the target quantity of geo-bags were supplied at the site till May 2. "Project authorities informed only 50,000 geo-bags as against the targeted quantity of 4,34,344 were available at the site as on May 2," said the CWC report.
The team also pointed at the delay in awarding contracts till January 28 this year. Although the situation in Rohmoria was considered serious, the state government decided to postpone the work of pitching on the bank slopes.
Supply of RCC porcupine posts were also found to be way below target. Out of the total 80 pc of the construction and supply of RCC porcupines, as prescribed by the advisory committee for Rohmoria protection, only 40 pc were found in place by the CWC team. Their report mentioned only 52 pc of the total RCC porcupines in progress up to April 30.
The team also expressed dissatisfaction at the bad quality of RCC posts at the site. "It was observed some of the RCC posts lying at the site were not in good condition. It is felt essential to strengthen the quality control cell at the work site by the state government," the CWC report said.