Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi, July 13: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit on Monday made it clear that her government would not accept Delhi Metro chief E Sreedharan’s resignation in the wake of Sunday morning bridge collapse, in which six persons were killed and 15 others injured.
Speaking to reporters, Dixit said the presence of Sreedharan – managing director of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) – was very important for the entire project.
"He (Sreedharan) has agreed to continue (as Metro
managing director). We had requested him to continue," Dikshit
told reporters here after a Cabinet meeting.
"The Cabinet discussed the entire incident and now we are
waiting for the report after which appropriate action will be
taken," the Chief Minister said.
On being asked if the government would set up a separate
probe panel, she said, "There is no need for a separate
committee. DMRC is a responsible body. We don`t interfere in
their work. The panel constitutes of well-known experts."
"Let them submit the report then we will see," she added.
On being asked about today’s mishap the Chief Minister said, “I can’t be answerable for all mishaps. It was a technical fault. DMRC is an independent body and we won’t interfere in its functioning. An independent committee will look into yesterday’s mishap. The committee will also decide as to what extent the contractor Gammon India was responsible for the mishap.”
Sreedharan had yesterday resigned from the post owning moral responsibility for the mishap.
The technocrat has been involved with the Delhi Metro right from the beginning and the organisation is currently faced with tight schedule to complete several lines ahead of the Commonwealth games 2010, to be held in the national capital.
The DMRC chief earlier this morning once again inspected the site where an under-construction bridge collapsed yesterday, even as clearing operations in the area were going on.
Rains last night hampered clearing operations at the site where huge cranes are being used to clear the debris.
Water supply in neighbouring areas has also been disrupted as the pillar, which gave way yesterday leading to the collapse of the under-construction bridge, fell on a water pipeline.
Traffic continued to be disrupted in the busy Nehru Place area and police have advised people to avoid the Zamrudpur-Lady Shri Ram college route.
DMRC set up a four-member committee to examine reasons for the accident and it would submit its report in 10 days.
The Urban Development Ministry of the Central government is also setting up a committee to look into the lapses.
Describing the accident as "more serious" than the one that happened in Laxmi Nagar last year, Sreedharan had announced his resignation Sunday afternoon, taking "full moral responsibility" for it.
However, after a high-level meeting last night to discuss the accident, Dikshit had decided not to accept the resignation.
