All PWD officials were instructed well before the monsoons to ensure safety at road, bridge and building worksites. Accidents like the one on Saturday at a bridge in Thripunithura, which claimed the life of a youth, could have been avoided if the officials concerned had paid heed to the instructions, Public Works Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas told mediapersons at Fort Kochi on Monday.
The department will not tolerate any such apathy in regard to safety and quality of works, he said, and assured that action will be taken if the public informs him or higher ups in the department about compromises made in construction.
To a question on a section of contractors seeking cover under the alibi that there ought to be specific mention in the agreement about warning boards, barricades, reflectors, and other safety measures, Mr. Riyas said the PWD Manual has mentioned in detail about the norms to ensure public safety. The department’s field-level officials such as Assistant Engineer and overseer are duty bound to adhere to this, and higher officials such as the Assistant Executive Engineer ought to supervise this. After all, human life and taxpayer’s money are at stake. Instructions have been given to Chief Engineers of each wing to ensure that the officials concerned inspect all work sites.
