KOCHI: It seems that back-to-back orders from the Kerala High Court directing the state government to repair the potholed roads have fallen on deaf ears. In the last 13 years, the HC had expressed its concern over the pathetic state of roads and directed the government to repair them on at least five occasions, but to no avail.On Thursday, the HC directed the government to complete the repair and maintenance works of damaged roads across the state, specifically in Kochi city. Invariably on every occasion, the authorities would blame the incessant rain, poor contract management and lack of resources and funds for the delay in maintenance. Therefore, people do not have any high expectation this time too, says C P Ajith Kumar, who filed the petition regarding the roads, this time. In 1998, Ajith Kumar, proprietor of Suburban Travels, had filed a petition seeking a directive to maintain the roads in the state in a good condition. Considering the plea, Justice K A Gafoor had directed the government to take immediate steps to maintain the roads in a good condition and fit for both vehicular traffic and pedestrian movement throughout the year. “Roads are meant to ensure free movement and is part of the right to life. Long-term measures are needed for a permanent solution,” says advocate Jaju Babu. On November 24, 2006, the court had intervened in the issue again. Then, the PWD submitted that owing to heavy rain, many potholes had developed in the state and road conditions deteriorated further during heavy floods and submergence. But, HC ignored the submission and directed the government to produce the tax collected under the Motor Vehicle Taxation Act. Again, nothing was done in this regard by the government.In August 8, 2007, the HC had made an oral observation describing the condition of roads as ‘shameful’ adding that no other state would have such bad roads.On January 8, 2008, the HC had directed the state to complete the maintenance of roads before next monsoon. The HC also directed the government to take a decision regarding the performance guarantee. On July 17, 2009, coming down heavily on the state, the HC observed that the majority of roads in the state were in deplorable condition. Major roads, many of them named after great personalities, are in a such condition which will cause those great forefathers turn in their graves, the court said.Issuing the order this time, the HC observed that there should not be any room for complaints attributable to the effect of monsoons or water logging. If immediate action is not taken, the obituary columns of newspapers will have to keep on adding the names of those who lost their lives in road accidents, the court said.
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