Flyover project began during Left regime, says Mamata

It is a blacklisted firm. We will not spare the builders, assures CM.

Rescue workers shift a person injured in the flyover collapse in Kolkata on Thursday. Photo: Ashoke Chakrabarty

While political parties have committed themselves to refrain from politicising the collapse of the flyover, the blame game has already begun.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday directly blamed the CPI(M) for giving the contract of the central Kolkata flyover to the Hyderabad-based IVCRL.

“The project began in 2008 under the CPI(M). But this mishap has happened in our time, so we will do what it takes,” Ms. Banerjee said. She also said she did not want “to make any political comments” related to the incident.

Baseless, says ex-Minister

Reacting to Ms. Banerjee’s observation, the former Urban Development Minister, Ashok Bhattacharya, said the allegation was “baseless.”

The BJP has sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Ms. Banerjee said the government would constitute a team of experts from IIT and Jadavpur University to investigate the flyover collapse. While a First Information Report had been filed in a central Kolkata police station, Ms. Banerjee said in a written statement that the government “will not spare the builders.” “They are a blacklisted company. We will take stringent action,” Ms. Banerjee said. She claimed that the government had earlier “sought a complete plan of action from the builders.” But the plan did not arrive, she said.

The government announced an ex gratia of Rs. 5 lakh for the deceased, Rs. 2 lakh for the seriously injured and Rs. 1 lakh for those with minor injuries.

Mr. Bhattacharya said the project was started under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and the contractor was selected through competitive bidding in 2009. “The company was not blacklisted then. At that time the work did not progress beyond the construction of a few pillars due to objection of locals,” Mr. Bhattacharya told The Hindu .

“Even after the Trinamool Congress came to power there was no progress for two years. The work started recently. The Chief Minister announced that that the work has to be finished before the polls and the State government continued with the same contractor. But these days, construction works in the State are being done by ‘syndicates.’ I think sub-standard construction material was used,” Mr. Bhattacharya said.