VMC officialshave come under sharp criticism for their criminal negligence in proper execution of civic works.
Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) officials and contractors hired by the civic body have come under sharp criticism for their criminal negligence in proper execution of civic works, which led to untimely death of a seven-year-old child, Pradeep Parmar, after falling into a water-filled deep pit at Makarpura on Tuesday.
But, unmindful of people's deep anger, VMC officials have failed to investigate the incident in detail even though more than 24 hours have passed since the accident. The pit had reportedly been dug for laying drainage line in the area. According to residents of the area, while work on the drainage line was completed in November last year, the pit was not filled up.
Even though the city mayor announced a compensation of Rs2 lakh to the bereaved family from his fund, people's anger over the issue is far from assuaged. A group of people, including some political workers, have submitted a memorandum to the district collector, demanding an inquiry into the matter and suitable action against VMC officials and administrators.
The Makarpura incident was not the first of this kind that snuffed out a promising life. In 2007, a 25-year-old executive had died after falling in rain water drainage line, which had been left open, at JP road. Talking to DNA, Congress spokesman Shailesh Amin said, "This is an act of criminal negligence, due to which an innocent child has lost his life. Compensation is no solution to the problem. VMC officials have not taken any step to investigate the matter in detail even after 24 hours. We have submitted a memorandum against VMC officials and administrators to the collector, demanding inquiry.
City engineer VN Tailor had a different take on the matter, "The accident spot is not actually a pit, but a low-lying area where rain water had accumulated. The child slipped into it and could not come out. I have checked the matter and told the persons concerned to do the needful."
Even as people continue to fume, the mayor and MP, Balu Shukla, told DNA, “The incident occurred as it was a low-lying area. But the pits which are open and dangerous for the people. I have myself detected some such locations in the city. I have asked the staff concerned to complete the work as soon as possible.”
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