S Tahir-Ul Haq
Early Times Report
BANDIPORA, Aug 28: Most of the roads in this North Kashmir district have potholes and are in shambles with the vehicles forced to move at snail's pace. The residents are up in arms against Roads and Buildings (R&B) department as well as Beacon authorities alleging apathy from them.
"Roads and Building (R&B) department is receiving crores of funds every year for the maintenance purpose, but the department has failed completely to improve the poor conditions of roads in Sonawari area of Bandipora district," said Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Sonawari.
Bashir said that in Bandipora and Sonawari tehsils, there are dozens of roads which are in shambles with the authorities last time assuring them that repair work of roads will be taken up on priority basis. He said nothing of that sort has happened with the condition of roads being worse.
"We fail to understand that why government is not fulfilling their promises. In past announcement that huge amount would be sanctioned to repair and construct the roads in the district. However, the announcement has remained confined to papers only with no visible action on ground," a group of locals told Early Times.
These locals said that the roads from Hajin, Sumbal to Shilwat and other 15 villages Gund Dachana, Gund Qasir, Gundpora Rampore, Gadakhud, Ganastan, Odina, Pushwari, Rakh Hajin, Shilwat, Tangpora, Sumbal Ghat and Tirgam are in dilapidated condition.
"The department seems to be in deep slumber with poor utilization of funds taking place since the past two years. The money provided by Government of India (GoI) under various schemes has several times lapsed due to poor utilization," said residents of Sonawari.
Another local resident said that despite tall claims the department of R&B is not able to use funds properly due to many reasons and one of the main reasons is they are not willing to utilize the funds at ground level. He alleged that R&B has failed to provide concrete and proper roads and their maintenance in Bandipora district, which connects Gurez as well.
Another local resident of Shilwat, Nisar Ahmad said that only road garnishing is being carried out on National Highways since 2010 adding that roads in Bandipora district have been left in worst conditions.
Accusing local legislator Mohammad Akbar Lone of playing with the emotions of people the locals said that at the time of election the politicians do anything to fill their vote bank. They said that once these people get elected they seldom to visit their constituencies so that corrective measures are taken. |
