Maharashtra PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal today announced a high-level inquiry into the wall collapse mishap in which five irrigation department engineers were killed.
The mishap took place yesterday when a portion of the wall at a barrage caved in near the district's Chinchve area, about 110 kms from here.
After visiting the families of three of the deceased engineers, Bhujbal, who is the in-charge of Nashik district, also announced a financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of the five engineers from the Chief Minister's relief fund.
A chief engineer-level officer will conduct an inquiry into the incident.
The state irrigation department had earlier suspended three engineers, including Sharad Chandra Sonawane (deputy engineer and one of victims) as work on the percolation tank, whose wall collapsed yesterday, was "sub-standard" and no water was released from its jack well (head regulator), the minister said.
In view of the ongoing rainy season, the irrigation department had asked the contractor not to allow work in soily areas. However, the work at the ill-fated site was in progress since July 26.
When asked whether the government will book the contractor for 'culpable homicide', Bhujbal said police are registering an offence in the mishap and they will decide on it.
State Water Conservation minister Nitin Raut told reporters that an inquiry will be conducted on the allegations of the sub-standard work and also the accident in which the engineers were killed.
