Kodagu MLAs seek probe into work on DC office retaining wall

They find fault in the design; some slabs may fall anytime traffic on the Mangaluru Road adjacent to the deputy commissioner’s office suspended temporarily as a safety measure

Questioning the design of the retaining wall of the deputy commissioner’s office on Mangaluru highway, Kodagu MLAs K.G. Bopaiah and Appachu Ranjan on Tuesday sought an inquiry into the work and demanded action against those responsible for the present state of affairs of the work for which ₹9 crore was spent.

Mr. Bopaiah and Mr. Ranjan, along with Deputy Commissioner B.C. Satish, inspected the retaining wall whose side slabs are bloating and may fall anytime. The seepage of rainwater was cited as the reason for the ballooning of the slabs.

Mr. Bopaiah demanded a probe into the retaining wall work, saying that crores of rupees were spent on it for strengthening the DC office premises.

Mr. Ranjan said he was apprehensive about the work from the beginning and was not satisfied with the way it was designed. “I had expressed my doubts on the work and said the slabs will not last long seeing the design and the work. I will place the matter before the petition committee, seeking action either against the contractor or the engineers whoever is found responsible after an inquiry,” he said.

Mr. Ranjan said he had suggested building concrete walls but some agency in Delhi came up with the new design and went ahead with the work. “Retaining wall using slabs doesn’t last long as it doesn’t suit Kodagu’s soil. The engineers did not listen to me,” he lamented.

The MLA said the retaining wall should have been designed considering the rain situation of Kodagu. “The slabs have reached a stage where they would fall anytime.”

Taking the engineers to task, Mr. Ranjan asked, “How can the public use this road when there is a threat of slabs falling any moment.”