Paddyfields filled with Metro soil

Kochi: Huge quantities of soil  excavated from the pile pits of Metro Rail sites are being used for land filling in many parts of the district, it is alleged.

The Aluva police   seized a vehicle transporting the soil on Sunday night  based on a complaint submitted by K.A. Haris, a sub- contractor of L&T, who is in charge of removing the excavated soil.  

P.A. Faisal, Aluva SI, told DC that the tipper was seized  for illegally filling a paddyfield near Aluva using the excavated soil. “A report has been submitted to the district collector who will take further action,” he said.

According to Haris, the malpractice is being supported by a group of drivers and supervisors of the contractor company L&T.  He has signed an agreement with L&T for removing the excavated soil from the Kalamassery- Aluva Metro corridor.

“As per the contract with L&T, the sub-contractor should dump the excavated soil at the specified sites. It should be used only for Metro-related works like road construction or widening within 10 km of the Metro sites. It has been specifically directed that the soil should not be used for any other purpose,” said  Haris.

He alleged that the sale of soil for land filling was being done by a section of L&T workers. “I don’t think the senior officials are aware of it. Since I have signed a contract with the company, any such malpractice will defame my reputation. That is why I registered a complaint with the police,” he said.

Meanwhile, a top official of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation told DC that it was the responsibility of the sub-contractor to ensure that the excavated soil is not used for land filling.

“The KMRL, DMRC or L&T has  no role in it. Moreover, there is no instruction that the soil should be dumped at specified locations,” he said.