Poor road connectivity irks people. Authorities’ apathetic, inhabitants Aghast. SHABIR-UZ-ZAMAN Pulwama: The repair, black topping and macadamisation of the many link roads have been a dream for years now in this south Kashmir District. People have expressed deep anguish on this uncaring role of the concerned departments. “Ratnipora to Puchal and Koil to Awantipora via Lajoora, Ratnipora to Hanjipora and many more link roads have been in shambles from last ten years,” claim the locals adding that the black topping of Ratnipora-Puchal road was taken up in hand some four years ago but for the unknown reasons many patches of the road were left unattended. They said that the authorities assured them that the remaining portions will be executed shortly but even after a gap of four years they never turned up. The road provides connectivity to some dozen villages comprising of thousands of inhabitants. The Koil-Awantipora road is in a dilapidated condition adding to the miseries of commuters. “Even the drivers plying their vehicles on this road are refusing to provide their services as their vehicles get damaged,” said a daily passenger adding that the road also provides a link to Malanpora Railway station. “Why the contractors every year repair this road? I think just to loot the state exchequer; can’t they macadamize it once for all?” Asks a local resident of Puchal in aghast. The Hanjipora-Ratnipora road also presents the same picture. While talking to this Correspondent the locals said that though the MLA Pulwama Mr. Mohd. Khalil Bandh and MP Mr. G N Ratanpuri had separately assured the macadamisation of these roads but till now nothing has been done on ground level. The locals allege that despite repeated attempts the R&B officials did not pay any heed to the pleas of the common people of these areas. The people have urged the concerned departments to take-up the macadamisation of the said roads on priority before the ongoing season for macadamisation goes out of hand. Pertinent to note is that present day weather conditions are favorable for macadamisation and for reasons unknown to the people the authorities are dilly dallying these grievances. When contacted, MLA Pulwama said, “The work on these important roads is being executed by NABARD and due to the strike of contractors there has been a break off on construction work”. Regarding the loot of exchequer by the babus & contractors as claimed by the locals, he responded that the surfaces are to be smoothened before the final stage of macadamisation that is why it takes time.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 10:04:51 +0000
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