Contractor left work halfway, Govt forgets to take action; People suffer
Suhail Rather
Chitteybandy ( Bandipora) November 16: Resentment is brewing up among the residents of four villages of Aragam belt as the government failed to construct a bridge at Frusdob thus disconnecting thousands of people.
Locals said the construction of few metres long bridge was initiated in the year 2010 but the department left the work midway. The residents of the Frasdob, Krisal,Gorihajin,Budinaar, Chanpal and adjoining areas said they are facing immense hardships and inconvenience due to the absence of bridge.
“We are forced to walk on an unsafe bridge which can prove disastrous for the pedestrians during rainy season,” wooed Shabir Ahmad Mir Gojer. “The students and women folk are the worst sufferers as they have to cross the bridge daily to go to school or fetch water or firewood,” they said.
Even the patients, students travel either from a temporary bridge formed through logs of would placed across the banks of the stream.
Locals said in 2010 people were jubilant after work was started on the construction of the bridge but was left half way. They said they apprised the concerned authorities about the issue but their plea fell at deaf ears.
Villagers said Rural Engineering Wing department earlier sanctioned an amount of Rs 16.72 lacs for construction of bridge but the contractor left the work in the midway which resulted immense problems to the people especially to a population of about 9000 villagers who are totally disconnected.
They said the bridge is not so big that it may have budget constraints. They said the bridge can be even constructed under MGNREGA but needs attention of the district authorities.
They appeal the concerned authority to get their grievances redressed at earliest.
The contractor who was working on the bridge said an amount of Rs 4.84 lacs which the government owed him is yet to be released by the department. He said due to the shortage of funds, he could not continue the work on the bridge.
Interestingly the Government seems to be clueless about the ownership of the bridge. Executive Engineer REW Bandipora Qaiser Amin told Kashmir Convener that the bridge has been handed over to PMGSY Department but PMGSY Executive Engineer Ab Rashid Malik denied the news regarding the handover of said bridge.
District Development Commissioner Bandipora Sajad Hussain assured investigation into the matter.
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