Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Apr 29: Over a dozen diversions on the main roads, constructed after last year’s floods in which several bridges were washed away, have been washed away snapping communication between various parts of Pulwama district in South Kashmir.
Over one dozen bridges were washed away at several villages including Gudoora, Rohmu, Batgund, Rangmul, Machkoma, Tengpona, Bamalu and Chatarpur in last year’s devastative floods. The washing away of the bridges snapped communication links of the district headquarter with the other areas.
Residents said that Government constructed over one dozen diversions at these places where the bridges were washed away and the communication was restored after the last year’s floods. “But after the heavy rains since March these diversions were washed away snapping road connectivity to these areas”, said Javed Ahmad, a local resident.
The bridge and later diversion washed away at Gudoora snapped road communication between Pulwama and Srinagar via Nowgam. The washing of bridge and diversion at Rohmu snapped communication between Pulwama and Pakherpora, the washing away of diversion at Batgund has disconnected various villages from Tral and washing of diversion at Rangmul on Rohmsi nullah has snapped communication between Pulwama and Sangam.
People in these areas are using wooden logs to cross these rivers and rivulets. “We are using wooden logs to cross these rivulets and carry the load on our shoulders. We have apprised the Government about some permanent solution to these diversions as they get washed away every now and then with slight downpour”, said Aijaz Ahmad, a local resident.
Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Neeraj Kumar, told Excelsior, that work on the Gudoora diversion is going on and it will be restored soon. He said that the work on other diversions was taken up several times since March when they were washed away but with the increase in the water level they were again washed away.
Kumar said that present diversions are not a long term solution and he has proposed construction of Bailey bridges at these places, which is cost effective. “We have constructed these diversions several times since March but they are being washed away in flash floods in these nullahs and the proposed Bailey bridges will not get washed away”, he added.
The DC said that he has sent Rs 10 crore proposal to the Government for the construction of these Bailey bridges so that the communication lines are restored immediately in Pulwama district. “I have also spoken to Finance Minister and as soon as the money is released, the work on these bridges will be started”, he added.
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