Excelsior Correspondent
BHADARWAH, Oct 15: Ahead of the nine-phased panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir from November 17, residents of Hanga-Noori panchayat in Doda district have launched ‘no road, no vote’ campaign, as part of which they plan to not exercise their franchise, if their road complaints are not addressed.
Hanga-Noori panchayat, located in the western hills of Bhadarwah town, is crippled by poor road connectivity, locals alleged, adding that their prime demand is the restoration, black-topping and macadamization of the critical Domail-Hanga Road.
Irked by the “attitude” of the authorities, the villagers of Hanga panchayat met representatives of adjoining villages and discussed the road connectivity issue at Gathi Morh Hanga. After the meeting, it was unanimously decided that locals will not cast their votes in the upcoming panchayat elections, the residents said.
Since then the ‘no road, no vote’ has taken off. The residents have demonstrated in public areas with placards, pasted related posters and have “endlessly” urged the authorities to repair the damaged portion of the six-km-long Domail-Hanga Road and complete other related works. Built in 1960 by the forest department, the Domail-Hanga Road was the first link road to Chenab Valley from here.
“The villagers have resolved to launch a peaceful protest with the slogan ‘no road, no vote’, as part of which the democratic process (panchayat elections) will be boycotted,” an 80-year-old retired teacher, Tek Chand of Hanga village, said.
He said the road was laid in early 1960’s by the forest department for transportation of timber. The road was easily manoeuvrable as heavy trucks used it. However today, the road stands completely damaged due to negligence of concerned authorities, leaving over 2,500 people without “decent” connectivity.
“It has been very difficult to travel on this road for the last five decades. It has not been maintained, forget macadamization,” Chand said.
When contacted, Executive Engineer of Roads and Buildings, Bhadarwah division, Bashir Ahmed Khanday, he said, “We invited tenders multiple times in the past for repair and macadamization of the road but found no takers. Out of the total road length of 6 km, 2 km is under the district sector and remaining stretch is to be covered by NABARD. We have again floated short-term tender notices. Hopefully this time we will receive some bids.”
He said the government is trying its best to make the road motarable by laying shingle and metal on the entire stretch.
“If weather allows and some contractors come forward, we will black-top the first kilometre by end of November,” Khanday said.
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