Chirag meets Nitish, expressesconcern over collapse of bridges

Patna: Union minister Chirag Paswan on Sunday called on chief minister Nitish Kumar and discussed the recent spate of collapsing bridges in Bihar over the past fortnight among other issues. This meeting marked Chirag’s first with Nitish since being inducted as a Union minister in the Narendra Modi govt and symbolized renewed solidarity between the two NDA partners who have resolved past differences.
“These days, bridge collapse incidents are coming to light in Bihar and I expressed concern over them while meeting the CM,” Chirag, the food processing industries minister in the Narendra Modi govt, posted on X.
Chirag said, the CM assured him that appropriate actions would be taken against those responsible. “The CM assured me that departmental action will be taken (against the persons concerned) over bridge collapse as soon as possible,” Chirag added.
In the past fortnight, at least 10 bridges have collapsed in Bihar, leading the state govt to suspend 17 engineers from the flood and water discharge divisions as well as the rural works department for gross negligence. The collapses were reported from Siwan, Saran, Madhubani, Araria, East Champaran, and Kishanganj.
During the meeting, Chirag also raised the issue of pending appointments for the dependents of retired and retiring dafadars/chowkidars and those who took voluntary retirement. “Even as these people haven’t been given appointment letters, fresh appointment process has begun in few districts which is a matter of concern,” Chirag told the CM. Meanwhile, Chirag met the grieving family members of slain youth Golden Paswan in Siwan and expressed frustration over the non-arrest of all the accused in the case.