The Solai Dam burst incident that claimed 47 lives and displaced over 2,500 people, Senators have now demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of the owner.
The legislators expressed their frustration that nearly a week after the incident occurred, the owner had neither appeared in public to condole with the victims nor recorded a statement with the police.
"Buildings have collapsed in the past and the owners were arrested, questioned and forced to record statements.
[caption caption="Rescue efforts after the Solai Dam tragedy"]
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"This does not appear to be the case in Solai dam disaster because it has been a week already and the owner has not recorded a statement. How powerful is the owner?" Yusuf Haji the chairman of the Committee on National Security posed.
During a presser at Parliament, the committee, led by its chairman Yusuf Haji, demanded that Mansukh Patel, who is believed to be the owner of the farm where the dam was located, to be arraigned in court.
Besides, the committee wants Patel to be forced to compensate all the victims terming the disaster as a result of his negligence.
The recommendation was made after the committee toured the expansive farm and the killer dam on Monday on a fact-finding mission.
However, in public apology published in the Daily Nation on Tuesday and signed by the Solai Group chairman Patel, the farm management expressed their deepest condolences following the incident.
"During this time of immeasurable grief and sorrow, we stand united with our community in social whole-heartedly.
[caption caption="Patel Dam"]
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"We appreciate the grace with which the government and Non-governmental Organisations have handled the situation," the apology read in part.
Reports by the Committee on National Security indicate that out of the seven dams in Patel Coffee Estates Ltd, the only one that was licensed by the Water Resources Management Authority was the one that collapsed.
