Construction materials on Balangir roads lead to accidents

BALANGIR: Unauthorised stacking up of building construction materials on the roads of Balangir poses great threat to commuters. Frequent accidents due to the road blocked by construction materials and waste have sparked strong resentment among residents.
People alleged that despite specific laws to penalise the violators, the municipality is taking no steps to stop dumping of construction materials.
Recently two severe road accidents took place in which two motorcyclists got injured on their head and leg after they lost control when the bikes ran over a heap of sand. One of them is still undergoing treatment.
Sunil Sharma, one of the accident victims, said, “I was returning to my house taking Rugudipada-railway station road. Suddenly, my motorcycle ran over the sand, which was lying on the road. I lost control over my vehicle. The bike skidded off and my head hit a mount of stone boulders.”
He was lucky as he has recovered from his injury. But another victim was unfortunate and he is limping as his left leg was grievously hurt. He is still under medication, said a resident.
“It is really unfortunate that municipality is not taking any action the issue. People are breaking rules without any fear of action. I wrote to all officials concerned about the issue to take stringent action against law-breakers,” said Sharma.
Everyday tonnes of construction materials like brick, sand, boulders are stacked on the roads without any prior permission from the municipality, said an official. Not a single road inside the town is free from construction waste.
Bipin Bihari Deep, executive officer of Balangir municipality, said, “We have a team which is responsible to enforce laws and penalise those violating them by stacking construction materials as well as waste on roads. The team has penalised many people in the town.”
The team comprises an amin, a tax collector and an official.
“When any complaint is received, the team inspects the area and acts accordingly to enforce the law. We will definitely clear all roads where construction materials are piling up to ensure safety of commuters in the town,” said Deep.