Mohammad Amin Malik
Bhaderwah
It has been more than seven years since the foundation stone for the construction of the Lamote Dranga bridge in Bhaderwah was laid but alleged political indifference and the lackadaisical approach of the authorities has put the project in limbo.
The locals of over a dozen villages including Narnoo , Chuna , Lamote, Dranga and Kulsari alleged that lackadaisical attitude of the authorities has shaken their political faith as they feel they have been deliberately ignored.
“If the government has completed other development works which were taken up along with our bridge, then why is the construction work on the bridge lingering on for last several years? Some of the politicians are not happy with the people of this area and they are, in a way, punishing,” said a local, Sansar Chand .
“People risk their lives to cross the Neeru river by walking within it ,” said Nand Lal. “We visited officers of local administration and MLAs concerned on several occasions with a plea to ensure completion of the bridge at the earliest, but instead of speeding up the construction work, it has suspended intermittently during the past years,” Raj Kumar said.
“We are habituated of seeing government projects going clueless generations after generations just like TV serials. Foundation stones are laid, and after some days these things become either good dry cleaners or effective means of bio-fuel generation,” he alleged.
The locals also said although these villages are only some kilometers away from the Bhaderwah town , residents have to travel 10-15 kilometers in order to commute on daily basis. However, during the six years, two spans have been constructed and middle span which covers a large area of the bridge has been left incomplete, the inhabitants added.
Locals said the absence of bridge was also marring the marriage prospects of those living on other side of the bridge. The locals said about 38 per cent of construction work had already been completed.
SE R&B Doda could not be contacted for comments despite repeated attempts.
(Mohammad Amin Malik reports as Citizen Journalist for Kashmir Life. This is under the segment #WeAreListening)
