Pics: Inchara Digitals
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)
 
Udupi, Feb 13: A large crack that occurred on the National Highway (NH) 17 at Tenka Yermal, near here, owing to the recklessness in executing the laying of a pipeline by the contractors of Nagarjuna–LANCO of Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL), a few weeks ago is reported to have widened as on Friday February 12.
 
Although the execution of laying the pipeline by boring a trench through NH 17 at Tenka Yermal by the contractor has threatened the stretch of highway, the concerned officers seemed to be in favour of the contractors executing works for the state-owned UPCL.
 

The laying of the pipeline from the plant to the Arabian Sea shore began on January 4. Since then, the stretch of highway has posed a danger to traffic as a gap developed on the spot. 

The highway authorities were strict with private people if anyone ever caused even a little damage even to access roads.  The authorities fine them heavily, but the current reported damage has not caused any major concern to the officers concerned!

The setting up of the controversial Nagarjuna power plant has gone ahead unabated, despite the opposition of locals. 
 
Speaking to media persons, NH assistant executive engineer Umesh Kamath said that UPCL has the approval of the union ministry for executing the work.  The damage to the highway was anticipated while trenching to lay the outflow pipeline a few kilometers into the Arabian Sea. 

“The work is likely to be over in a week, by then if the stretch of NH collapses, it will be restored at the cost of Nagarjuna.  Besides, if it collapses early, then Nagarjuna will have to pay for laying the diversion”, said executive engineer Umesh Kamath.  
 
The highway authorities seem to justify themselves that since the state undergoes shortage of power UPCL has been allowed to resume commissioning of power at the earliest, even by causing damage to highway thereby inconveniencing motorists, heavy vehicular traffic, and pedestrians alike.
 
In spite of Nagarjuna laying sand-filled bags in the large gap and dumping concrete, the busy traffic throughout the day and night has worsened the condition. 
 
Highway executive engineer Krishne Gowda, assistant engineer Umesh Bhat already visited the spot that has been posing major bottlenecks to traffic, if the vital line shrinks by the weight of vehicular traffic.