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Bhubaneswar: Two days after the second mishap at Bomikhal flyover which killed one labourer, startling facts pointing to unprecedented favouritism shown by the State government to the construction company - Panda Infra -have emerged.
Despite being blacklisted by the State government with clear instructions that no business activities will be carried out with Panda Infra after the first mishap, the construction firm continued its work on the Bomikhal flyover. Moreover, the firm also bagged another flyover construction contract at Jatni.
Even the website of Odisha Works department continues to mention Panda Infra in the list of super class contractors and the firm is ranked 98th among 214 companies.
“The contractor has been arrested and we have ordered an inquiry. After getting the report, the government will take action," said Works department minister, Prafulla Mallick.
On the other hand, senior leader of ruling-BJD, Damodar Rout has added fuel to fire saying that money of some members of the ruling party has been invested in Panda Infra.
“Talks are doing rounds that some ruling party members have invested in the company. Somebody might be pressurising the State government which is why the construction firm has been winning contracts,” Rout added.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the State government is sacrificing the interest of people for the benefit of a group of corrupt persons.
“This incident happened because of CM’s incapability as he was in-charge of the Works department a few months back. Retired employees are reappointed and there is a coterie of corrupt persons. Such act of sacrificing the interests of people is condemnable,” Pradhan stated.
Expressing similar views, Odisha Congress chief Niranjan Patnaik said, “The State government is not concerned about the safety and security of the people of the State. Instead, it is concerned about a particular contractor.”
Last year on September 10, a section of the under-construction Bomikhal flyover had collapsed leaving one person dead and ten others injured.
