State to bridge the gap in Maoist-prone district

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Tuesday decided to hand over construction of a bridge in a Maoist-infested district to a State-owned construction company after there was no response to tenders floated by it. The Government had floated seven tenders for the 900-metre bridge at Gurupriya in Malkangiri district, but contractors did not respond out of fear of Maoists, Works Secretary S K Ray told mediapersons. “This is the seventh time that contractors preferred not to respond to open tender,” Ray said.  Though earlier a reputed company had taken up the job, it left the work following threat from the Maoists, he said.Chief Secretary B K Patnaik said the Government would provide security to workers at the bridge. The bridge would provide connectivity to seven gram panchayats, comprising 151 villages.  Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday reviewed the law and order situation in view of the deteriorating situation in the Maoist-infested districts. Maoists had killed two tribals in Narayapatna area of Koraput district, branding them as police informers. Sources in the Home Department, however, denied that they were police informers. “Maoists have killed innocent tribals to create panic in the area,” a senior official said.