| Lack of coordination between deptts; people suffer, authorities unmoved | | | Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Aug 5: In an example of administrative inertia, the lack of coordination between different departments has halted the developmental works in Kashmir, causing much inconvenience to people.
The government has issued directives to departments several times to make coordination in developmental works. Despite that there is lack of coordination resulting the developmental works get affected.
Take an example of Srinagar's commercial hub, Lal Chowk, the drainage work has been completed but the material is still lying on road giving commuters a tough time. The stretch starting from Lambert lane up to Ghanta Ghar (clock tower) is dotted with potholes.
Although the project work has been completed but the construction material lies scattered and roads are not macadamized. "The drainage has been completed by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation but still there is lack of coordination between departments as Roads and Buildings Department is yet to macdamised the road," an official of Roads and Buildings Department said.
The official said that Roads and Buildings Department should have started the macdamisation work once the drainage work was completed by the SMC. "But these people are not bothered about the inconveniences people are facing," the official said.
The road infrastructure is further known to deteriorate due to frequent spells of rain, causing potholes to widen, which invariably causes water-logging and accidents. "The overall problem is exacerbated by the lack of coordination among various departments," the official said.
An official of the Housing and Urban Development Department said, "The R&B department first makes the construction of roads then we have to spend a lot of money in making the drainage system and then on repairing of roads. Before any road construction, the drainage system shall be in place prior to that."
Similarly, in Srinagar's Jahangir Chowk, roads are in a bad shape as the construction of Rambagh to Lal-Chowk Jahangir is underway. The dug out material on the roads causes frequent traffic snarls.
"I get stuck in a traffic jam every day. Despite leaving home an hour before the office time, I get late," said Wasim Ahmad, a resident of Chanapora.
Likewise, the road near Iqbal Park, roads leading to Chanapora are also in a shabby condition.
Such a non-serious attitude of departments could prove fatal for the commuters.
Saniya, a resident of Batamaloo recently fell off her scootie near Regal Chowk while traveling to home. She said, "My tyre got stuck in the construction material on the road. Although I received minor injuries but bad condition of roads can give to rise to some major accidents."
Ali Mohammad, a local resident said, "Besides posing a threat to commuters, the broken roads act as an eye-sore in front of the shops. Instead of repairing the roads, the authorities continue to sleep over the matter."
He said, "The deplorable state of the roads turns them into cesspools at mere showers. Time and again, the authorities promise action but fail to take it." |
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