Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Dec 28: It has been over three years since a bridge over Veshaw river at Ashthal village of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district was washed away in September 2014 devastating floods but authorities are yet to reconstruct it leading to problems for thousands of people living in the area.
Local residents said in absence of proper connectivity, thousands of people living in Asthal village are forced to take a long detour to reach the district headquarters of Kulgam. “We are forced to take a longer route to reach our destination. It takes us double the time to reach to the district headquarters of Kulgam,” said Masroor Ahmad, a local, adding that the alternative road the commuters are using is in deplorable condition and that is adding to the woes of commuters.
The locals alleged that after four years wait, authorities are building only half portion of the bridge and that would not serve any purpose. “Unless a bridge is not built over the entire river, it would not serve any purpose. Whenever, the river swells the area remains cut off,” he said.
An official at Roads and Buildings (R&B) department said with an estimated cost of nearly Rs 10.6 crores, the construction work on a 480-feet bridge was started some 10-15 days back. “The bridge was damaged in the devastating floods of 2014. However, the Government sanctioned a new bridge in its place in this year due to the scarcity of funds,” he said.
The locals of the area said that ever since the bridge was washed away in floods they have made repeated requests to the concerned authorities for the restoration of the connecting link but the authorities are unmoved. “We have been running from pillar to post for the restoration of the connecting link but our pleas are unheard. After overlooking the problems of the people for nearly four years the construction work on the bridge has been started,” they said.
Locals also lamented that the alternative road that commuters use becomes almost non-motorable during rains. “A light drizzle completely cuts off the area from the rest of the Valley as the available alternative road become non-motorable. It also becomes difficult for the vehicles to cross the uneven, muddy roads and several vehicles have broken while plying on it. The transporters have refused to ply on the road during rains. The residents have to walk nearly three kilometers by foot to catch the bus,” said a local elder.
Assistant Executive Engineer, R&B, Mohammad Ramzan, when contacted, said that construction work will be done in two phases and the work on the first phase is already underway. “We have divided the work into two phases. In the first phase, two hundred feet of the bridge will be covered and the rest will be done in the second phase,” he said.
Asked about the delay in the construction of the bridge, he said: “The bridges were sanctioned late, possibly because of the lack of funds. Now National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) will finance the project. The construction work is in full swing and if the weather remains good the first phase will be completed on time.”
Follow our WhatsApp channel
