Bhaderwah-Bhalessa distance to be reduced by 55 kms
Rs 43 cr spent, completion nowhere in sight
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, July 9: Even after spending an amount of over Rs 43 crores on just 33 kms long road from Gandoh to Jayee in Bhalessa, connecting Bhaderwah directly with Gandoh Sub Divisional headquarters, the construction agencies– JKPCC and PW(R&B), have failed to complete this road even after the lapse of 18 long years.
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Official sources told the Excelsior that this crucial road, on the popular demand of the people from remote Bhalessa area of district Doda, was sanctioned by the Government during the year 2003, with the efforts of the then Union MoS Defence, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, who happened to be the then Member of Parliament from the area. With the construction of this road through Jayee valley, the road distance between Gandoh and Bhaderwah will be reduced by nearly 55 kms. It takes more than three and half hours to cover 118 kms distance between Gandoh and Bhaderwah via Thathri and Puldoda. The direct road distance between Bhaderwah and Gandoh (Bhalessa) will remain hardly 63 kms via Jayee Valley and Rajpura.
Sources further revealed that after sanctioning of the road, the process of preparing Detailed Project Report (DPR) of this road remained slow, however, the work on this road was started with the initiative of the then J&K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad during 2007-08. Later, concerned MLA and the then R&B Minister, G M Saroori showed some interest.
For the first phase of the road from Zero to 18 kms from Gandoh side up to Rajpura, the Government sanctioned Rs 26.73 crores and agency- J&K Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) was allotted the work. The JKPCC initially executed the earth work with a pace, but thereafter the work went on snail’s pace. This agency failed to work up to the satisfaction of the Government and could not complete the work on the proposed road length with the sanctioned funds, leading to the project cost escalation.
Annoyed with the performance of JKPCC, the then Government handed over the work to PW(R&B) Department during 2016-17. The work even after this, could not be executed with satisfactory speed, due to poor monitoring by the senior officers at the helm of affairs and the lack of supervision by the then district administration. This road actually became casualty to the very slow flow of funds, less work season available being snowfall prone belt and poor supervision by the district and sub divisional administration as well.
Sources claimed that an amount of nearly Rs 42.74 crores has been spent so far on this project but hardly 20 kms of road could be completed with black topping. About 4 kms of road is also expected to be black topped in next two-three months. The department claimed that funds to the tune of nearly Rs 10 lakhs are still required to complete the remaining nearly 8 kms of road and construction of nearly 35 mt span double lane bridge between 18-33 kms road length. If the funds are made available, the road is expected to be completed by next two years, Executive Engineer, R&B Special Sub Division Gandoh, Ata Mohd said.
Referring to the compensation issue, the Xen said that out of the total Rs 472 lakh compensation amount for this road, Rs 203 lakhs stands released and reportedly disbursed by the Revenue authorities. However, the remaining amount (Rs 269 lakhs) is yet to be provided to the villagers/farmers, he added.
On being asked about the very slow pace of work on the road, the Executive Engineer said that in entire Bhalessa area heavy snowfall takes place during winter months. The area remains snow clad for more than six months and hardly five-six months working season is available to execute the work.
He said since he has taken over the charge during recent past, he will not be able to comment on the role played by former Xens or staff. But it is true that due to non-availability of sufficient funds and less working seasons played crucial role in the delay. He said if the sufficient funds are made available besides over Rs 2 crores for the bridge, the road can be completed even before two years.
It is pertinent to mention here that people of Rajpura and several other villages in Bhalessa are demanding release of compensation for the land acquired by the R&B authorities for this road but even after long delay, the authorities failed to clear their compensation dues. Even they sacrificed their apple orchards for the construction of this road. The Doda/Gandoh Revenue authorities have yet to clear compensation amount worth over Rs 269 lakhs of the poor farmers from remote Bhalessa area.
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