Times of India: Nagpur : Tuesday, November 28, 2017.
The state's
Public Works Department (PWD) has not taken any action against Mumbai-based RPS
Infraprojects Private Limited, which is executing Ring Road Cement Concrete
project, though FIR was lodged against its representative following death of a
two-wheeler rider Ashish Raut, 32, at one of the sites nine months ago.
The
revelation came after RTI activist Suraj Lolge obtained documents related to
Raut's accident from the PWD and the police department under the RTI Act. Ajni
police had registered an offence under section 304 (a) of IPC against Pankaj
Ashtankar, representative of RPS Infra after the accident. Charge sheet was
filed with the district court on June 30.
As per the
FIR, Raut was travelling on his two-wheeler from Shatabdi Square to Suyog Nagar
Square on Ring Road on February 24. "Tar on one side of Ring Road was dug
up to 5 feet. There were no barricades or any safety measures at the spot. Raut
fell on the debris and died. Raut's death was due to negligence and lack of
safety measures taken by the contractor," the police had mentioned.
Lolge told
TOI that corporator Rita Mule wrote to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC)
on May 6 and demanded compensation to the family of the deceased. "South
Nagpur MLA and city BJP chief Sudhakar Kohle too had written to the NMC on May
9. Both held the contractor responsible for Raut's death. The NMC then sent a
letter to the PWD demanding compensation for Raut's family. The PWD then sought
a reply from RPS Infra on June 16," he said.
Lolge added
that in its reply, RPS Infra denied negligence and lack of safety measures.
"RPS Infra presented pictures showing barricades and security personnel at
the site. Police had taken photographs at the site soon after the accident and
highlighted in FIR and also in charge sheet there were no barricades and security
personnel. Still, PWD did not penalize or initiate action on RPS Infra,"
he said.
"My
husband was the sole bread earner of the family. Ashtankar had assured to
provide a job to me," said Raut's wife Priti who had given birth to a boy
four days after her husband's death. Raut had also left behind another son and
an aged mother.
PWD chief
engineer Ulhas Debadwar said contractor is held responsible in case police
proves negligence or lack of safety at the project site. "I have no idea
about the accident and will inquire into it. Appropriate action will be taken
against contractor if found guilty," he said.
Delay |
Project deadline was September 23, 2017. Work not even 50% complete. RPS Infra
gets one year extension, project cost up by Rs50 crore
Tar &
metal | PWD did not supply NIT tar and metal excavated from Ring Road
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