SDM Sumbal was conveyed by locals but failed to save the bridge
Bandipora, March 19, CNS: Two months ago what the locals of Sumbal predicted about Sumbal bridge came true on Friday when it developed cracks as the sand mafia in the area didn’t even spared the bridge from extraction of sand while SDM Sumbal despite aware about the fact turned blind eye.
Locals allege local administration of playing hand in glove with the sand mafia who in the name of dredging extract sand unabatedly without caring about the banks of the river. “The contractors of Sand mafia even extracted sand near the pillars of bridge and administration especially SDM could not stop the mafia,” said Suhail Ahmad , a local. “That time we conveyed our concern to SDM Sumbal and he assured the people that the mafia will be dealt strictly but he never dared to speak against them,” he alleged.
Residents said the SDM attached a lower rung official in February this year as a face saver while the real culprits are still working with impunity.
On Friday the bridge that connects Srinagar with Leh, Bandipora, Kangan and Gurez Friday developed cracks resulting in the disruption of traffic for hours. Eyewitnesses told CNS that a major part of the bridge started developing cracks forcing officials to restrict the movement of heavy motor vehicles over the bridge.
Officials of the Roads and Buildings Department blamed the Irrigation and Flood Control Department for the damage to the bridge. “The bridge has developed cracks as the I&FC department freely allowed contractors to extract sand under the said bridge,” an R&B official told CNS.
However locals blame both I&FC and the local administration for turning blind eye towards public concern instead took side of sand mafia and didn’t bothered to take action against them.
Locals of Sumbal and adjacent areas alleged that in the garb of dredging, sand under the bridge was being extracted illegally during night hours.
“In January this year we had repeatedly protested against the I&FC officials and a contractor who resorted to illegal extraction of sand beneath the bridge. Irrigation and Flood Control Department officials violated all the norms to make quick bucks,” they said.
Despite clear cut directions given to the contractors undertaking the dredging work in the River Jehlum not to extract sand beneath any bridge, sand extraction under the Sumbal bridge continued for day’s and according to locals this illegal practice continued with the active support from the Sub Division Sumbal including Executive Engineer I&FC Division Sumbal.
“A contractor is supposed to extract sand and other material 500 feet away from any bridge but in Sumbal the case was totally different. During night hours the contractor used his workers and machinery to extract sand under the bridge. A tipper loaded with sand cost Rs 7,000 in the open market and the said contractors used those tippers whole night to ferry sand to different directions,” the locals from Sumbal area told CNS.
They claimed that on the night of January 26 this year, people caught the contractor red handed while extracting the sand under the bridge. “This contractor enjoyed the patronage of a top Irrigation and Flood Control Department official and that is why he easily used to violate the norms set by the department,” locals said adding that they were sure the said bridge will develop cracks and it may collapse anytime.
Despite repeated attempts Executive Engineer I&FC Division Sumbal Ghulam Jeelani could not be contacted, however, Sub-Division Magistrate Sumbal Ghulam Muhammad Bhat said that he will seek explanation from the said Executive Engineer.
Chief Engineer Beacon Ashish Kumar told CNS that they had repeatedly requested I&FC officials stop extracting sand beneath the bridge, however all their efforts prove futile. “There is a three feet long crack and we are mulling to repair it in coming days,” he said. (CNS)
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