Kathmandu, August 23 The Federation of Contractors Association of Nepal (FCAN) today refuted charges that the Jabdighat Bridge over the Babai River in Bardiya that collapsed last week was due to the negligence of the contractor — Pappu Construction Pvt Ltd. Issuing a press statement, FCAN officials said the bridge collapsed due to the faulty design of the government and its contractor should not be blamed as Pappu Construction had constructed the Jabdighat Bridge as per the design approved by the government. The 400-metre bridge, which linked the East-West Highway, caved in last Monday after the water level rose substantially in Babai River due to the monsoon rains. Following the collapse of the bridge, almost 500 households residing close to the Jabdighat Bridge have been cut off from Gulariya, the district headquarter. The bridge was constructed just a year ago at a cost of Rs 10.6 million and was yet to be handed over to the government. As the bridge collapsed even before it was handed over to the government, strong criticisms have poured in from all sides against the contractor. “Though the contractor during second phase of the survey had found different soil strata in the bridge construction site of Babai River compared to the first survey and recommended the government to change the design of the bridge with 10-metre depth and seven-metre diameter, the government had directed the contractor to follow the previous design,” said Ram Sharan Deuja, general secretary of FCAN. He added the contractor should not be blamed as the company had completed construction of the bridge as per the government’s own design. Meanwhile, government officials are reluctant to comment on the reason behind the collapse of the bridge. “We have formed a probe committee to study the actual reason behind the collapse. The report will determine the faulty aspects of the bridge that led to its collapse,” said Bishnu Prasad Sharma, information officer at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport. READ ALSO:

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