Gopal Sharma
BASANTGARH (Udhampur), June 13: A population of over 43000 souls from remote and mountainous area of Dudu-Basantgarh in district Udhampur is facing Government apathy due to total `criminal neglect’ in all respects.
The road which is considered as main life line of these people is in worst condition. Though this road was declared as motorable about three decades back but over 65 % of this road is still ‘kucha’. The first layer of crushed stones on this road has also disappeared as no black-topping work was initiated ever.
The distance between Ramnagar and Basantgarh is about 64 kms. The road between Ramnagar and Kalwantta (25 kms) is little better as some repair work was initiated there hardly three years back but ahead of that entire road up to Basantgarh and even Dudu, Latti and Mantalai is in worst condition.
There is total criminal neglect on the part of R&B department and the District Administration as well.
Sources in the R&B department told the Excelsior that funds to the tune of Rs 14 crore were spent on this road up to 45 kms from Ramnagar in last three years for maintenance and repair works including construction of some culverts, retaining walls, patch work etc but on seeing the actual ground condition, it appeared that even 10 percent of this amount has not been spent on the road.
Chief Engineer R&B Jammu Alok Mengi when contacted said that a very negligible amount is provided for the repair and maintenance work by the department and in case of this road also no sufficient funds were provided by the Government during last five years. He said that Executive Engineer R&B Udhampur has been directed to get the details of the funds spent on this road during last five years.
Executive Engineer R&B Division Udhampur, Rajesh Gupta claimed that in last five years an amount of just Rs 20.50 lakhs was provided by the Government for the normal maintenance/ repair of this road. Under special repair fund, Rs 13.96 lakh were spent in 5 years from zero to 45 kms of this Basantgarh road upto Tarunglian junction near Shivgali.
Giving details, he said during 2011-12, Rs 3.20 lakhs were spent, during 2012-13 no funds were provided by Government, during 2013-14 Rs 5.24 lakh, in 2014-15 Rs 8.21 lakh while during 2015-16 just Rs 3.86 lakh were spent.
From Majori to Gandh Top and Shiv Gali and from this place to Dudu and Latti, the road distance would be around 55 kms which is in worst condition. There are no sign boards, mile stones and protection walls on this mountainous road. This road was apparently never blacktopped. Upper concrete rough surface of crushed stones has wiped out. Many operators avoid to ply their vehicles in this area due to worst road condition. The people alleged that even the sitting DC Udhampur and previous several DCs have not visited this area. The sitting MLA visited the area twice during elections and thereafter, he came here only once.
The area which is most picturesque and have great Tourism potential has been neglected by the Tourism department as well. There are beautiful water falls in Dudu and Latti areas. The thick forests of Deodar trees, cool weather and green pastures at the bank of river Tawi at Dudu and Shiv Gali have great tourism attractions. But neither the local MLAs from Chenani and Ramnagar could help to change the destiny of the people, nor Ministers from Jammu ever cared to develop these areas. The District Administration heads also showed least interest in developing these most beautiful areas just closer to Seoj Dhar.
Retired School Principal Yog Raj Karlopia from Basantgarh and Master Sita Ram from Dudu said that if road of this area is developed the destiny of the people of this area will be automatically changed. They said people are very poor. Nobody, from bureaucracy, political circles or even the people from media visit here. The people are still living in pre-1947 conditions here. The politicians only use them for their vote bank and then after winning elections, they disappear. There is acute shortage of ration. Sugar supply was not seen in last six months. Depots are mostly seen closed. There is no supply of kerosene. There is no staff in hospitals. PHE, PDD staff hardly visit the area. Worst is the condition of power supply. For weeks and months, the damaged transformers are not replaced. No funds were ever provided for Tourism development in the area.
Master Kasturi Lal Gupta and Sarpanch Akhtar Hussain from Latti tehsil headquarters said that road from Chenani to Mantalai was upgraded recently but from Mantalai to Dudu and even up to Basantgarh, it is in worst condition. No roads under PMGSY have been included from this belt. Supply of ration is not regular. Water and power supply position is also grim and adequate staff is not available in schools and hospitals. Even at PHC Latti, posts of three doctors and about half a dozen other staffers are lying vacant. The area has great tourism potential but no funds were ever provided for the same. The population of over 21,000 souls of this Sub Division is badly suffering for want of Government attention. The people feel here as lesser children of God.
They have sought the intervention of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, DyCM Dr Nirmal Singh and R&B Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri towards the public plight.
SDM Bani, Kewal Krishan said that road construction work from Basantgarh to Jakhed has been suspended for the last 3-4 years as R&B authorities have not shown much interest to settle the dispute between contractors and department. Despite several communications to concerned Executive Engineer and AEE R&B Ramnagar, the road condition has not been improved. There is no TSO office at Basantgarh besides Agriculture, Horticulture, PHE, PDD offices. For Dudu and Basantgarh Sub Divisions there are two SDMs but only one TSO who runs his office from Majori. The local politicians failed to get the much needed offices functional till today at Basantgarh Sub Division which was created in 1976. CDPO’s (ICDS) office is also functioning from Majori and not Basantgarh while Anganwadi Workers/Helpers are facing lot of problems to collect nutrition from there as the office is over 22 kms away.
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