War of words erupts in J&K Assembly over damaged 4th Tawi bridge

Jammu, Feb 4: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and BJP MLA and former minister Sham Lal Sharma on Wednesday again entered into a verbal duel in the J&K Legislative Assembly.

This time the issue was the damaged 4th Tawi bridge during the Question Hour.

While responding to Shal Lal Sharma’s question, the Deputy Chief Minister said that as per the reports of the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, the Chief Engineer of the Public (R&B) Department Zone, Jammu, and the Managing Director of JKPCC Limited, no enquiry was ordered against the executing agency responsible for the construction of the 4th Tawi bridge.

He stated that the recent floods in Jammu damaged the bridge’s approaches, but the bridge itself remained intact.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that as per the inputs furnished by the Managing Director, JKPCC, the 4th Tawi Bridge project was awarded to JKPCC in 2010, with an estimated cost of Rs 93.12 Cr. The project was approved, and JKPCC floated an e-tender, which matured.

The Deputy CM added that consequent upon the decision of the Contract Committee and subsequent approval of Chairman JKPCC Limited, the allotment was made to the lowest bidder, M/S S.P Shingla Construction Private Limited, for an amount of Rs 67.088 Cr on turnkey basis.

He further informed that the said contractor took up the work and completed the bridge in time, which was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister in the year 2013 and thrown open for public traffic.

The Deputy CM added that after commissioning of the said bridge and during the heavy floods which occurred in 2014, the bridge components remained intact and no part of the bridge was damaged.

Dissatisfied by the answer, Sham Sharma said that the bridge breached twice.

“They did not answer my question. That is why I keep saying that the government is not serious. Even the answer did not mention the recent breach. This time you cannot make an excuse that it was inherited by your government in legacy because this bridge was started and inaugurated by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during his earlier tenure,” Sham Sharma said.

The Deputy Chief Minister quipped why did he (Sham Sharma) order an inquiry when he was the Minister.

Sharma returned the dig, saying, “Yes, we were in the coalition, but you (Deputy Chief Minister) were in PDP then.”