1 year ago
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AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat government has issued a show-cause to the BJP-run Morbi municipality, asking why it shouldn’t be dissolved for failing in its basic duties as an elected body by ignoring documented warnings about the rickety condition of the Morbi suspension footbridge that collapsed on October 30 last year, killing 135 people. Senior officials in the urban development department said the government was certain to “supersede” the municipality and that the show-cause was a formality. The municipality has been asked to respond in writing through a general body resolution by January 25.
The notice issued by the urban development department on Wednesday mentions that the municipality didn’t act on repeated communication from bridge maintenance and operations contractor
Oreva Group
about an
accident
waiting to happen if the structure wasn’t closed to the public and properly renovated.
“From all the available facts and records, it looks like the earlier operations contract for the suspension bridge ended in March 2017. After that, Oreva Group made it clear through several letters between January 13, 2018, and January 9, 2020, that the bridge’s condition was extremely dilapidated, and that it should be immediately closed and repairs carried out. If kept open, there could be a serious accident and loss of lives,” the notice states.
“It’s very clear that despite knowing that the suspension bridge was weak and dilapidated, the Morbi Nagar Palika showed a lethargic approach for a long time and did not take appropriate decisions,” the notice, based primarily on the preliminary findings of a three-member special investigation team, said.
Morbi municipality has 52 members, all from BJP
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