Excelsior Correspondent
MENDHAR, Sept 9: The people from Kottan and adjoining areas in Balakote block today held strong protest against the GREF authorities for carrying out sub-standard black-topping road work.
A large number of people assisted by Sarpanch and Panchs of the area came out on the road at Kottan Morh in the morning and started protest demonstration against 31 BRTF unit of the GREF engaged to repair and black top the road from Bhimbher Gali to Sagra on Mendhar-Krishana Ghati Road border road. The villagers raised barricades and stalled movement of traffic on the road.
The villagers were shouting slogans against GREF authorities, Officer Commanding 31 BRTF and Defence authorities. They also shouted slogans against Chief Engineer GREF, Project Jammu. They alleged that on one hand, they are laying layer of black topping and on the other hand it is getting removed. They said new surface is getting removed within couple of days and there is no higher authority to check this type of sub-standard work. They demanded that either this work be stopped or quality work be ensured.
With the protest by the villagers, the movement of the vehicles came to halt on this busy road. Later, in-charge tehsildar Balakote Shehzad Khan and SHO concerned reached the spot. Tehsildar also found new black surface broken at several places and took serious note of it. He spoke to OC BRTF concerned and asked him to stop this work. Tehsildar then talked to DC Poonch and requested him to take up the issue with the higher authorities at Jammu.
The villagers then lifted dharna demanding inquiry into the matter and the action against the contracting agency and the concerned BRTF unit officials through Central agency.
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