Mullarpatna Bridge collapse: MP Nalin blames sand mafia, authorities' negligence
Mangaluru, June 26: MP Nalin Kumar Kateel has alleged that the Mullarapatna Bridge, which was the first bridge to be a victim of sand mafia, the negligence of officials has also caused the incident.
Speaking to reporters in Mangaluru, he said that the locals had sent a video to authorities two years ago, in which the damage caused by the sand mining, and weak pillars were shown. But the district administration did not stop sand mining which was going on near the bridge using machines. Sand mining took place continuously in the past with the support of the people who were in position earlier. The authorities must take precautionary steps well in advance. Now the bridge is collapsed which may disrupt traffic movement for nearly two years.
"Now I have visited along with local MLA and instructed to provide a temporary arrangement," MP Nalin added.
Bridges that crossed 15 years must be inspected
"Gurupur Bridge is also posing a threat. Already a tender of Rs. 33 crore has been passed. Work is in progress. Even then it is the responsibility of the authorities to safeguard the bridge on an emergency basis. Meanwhile, the district officials along with experts must inspect those bridges that were constructed 15 years ago," MP Nalin Kumar added.
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Stalin accuses Centre of trying to use women's quota as 'weapon,' slams EPS over delimitation
Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has strongly criticised the Centre over the women's reservation and accused it of trying to use it as a "weapon" to tackle the opposition before taking up the delimitation exercise based on population.
"The Union government is not concerned about implementing reservations for women. If their concerns were genuine, they could have done it right away. Rather than doing that, the BJP-led Centre is thinking of using it as a weapon to tackle opposition and take up the delimitation exercise based on population," he told PTI in an interview.
"Hence, the women's reservation must be implemented immediately without showing delimitation as a reason," the DMK president added.
Expressing apprehensions on the proposed delimitation exercise, the CM said it was the DMK that raised the first voice asserting the rights of the state after realising that Tamil Nadu would be affected by the proposed exercise. He also attacked his rival and AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami over the delimitation issue.
Recalling efforts made by the DMK to raise the issue of population-based delimitation, he said an all-party meeting and a meeting of CMs under the auspices of the Joint Action Committee seeking fair delimitation were convened. It sought to freeze delimitation for 25 years and stick to it based on the 1971 Census population.
"We urged the union government that states which successfully implemented population control programmes must not be punished," he added.
The party came up with "Tamil Nadu poradum, Tamil Nadu vellum" (Tamil Nadu will struggle, Tamil Nadu will win) and this is DMK's stand, he said.
"However, Palaniswami, who is seeking votes for the entry of the BJP through the backdoor, has till date been mute over delimitation, and this is a betrayal of the people of Tamil Nadu."
