Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Dec 7: Started in year 2009, the work on much talked about Rs 10.35 crore Sheva Dal bridge in Doda district has yet to see the light of the day as it has been abandoned by the concerned agency putting the people of over 60 villages to a great trouble.
According to sources, the work on the single lane motorable bridge was started at Sheva Dal on mighty Chenab in the year 2009 after it was approved by the Government led by then Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad on August 25, 2007 at Srinagar.
After digging one abetment and also stocking cement and reinforcement for its construction, the work was abruptly abandoned by the Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) the concerned agency in 2011 and since then it has not been resumed.
Sources said that the foundation stone of the bridge was laid by then R&B Minister, G M Saroori who had taken personnel interest in its construction along with some other bridges in the hilly belt of Doda and Kishtwar districts but later the work was abruptly abandoned by the authorities leaving the people high and dry despite the fact that for last 45 years over 60,000 population of these villages was crying for construction of bridge over the river Chenab at Sheva Dal to reduce their journey to Doda and other areas of the State.
These villages are totally dependent on the bridge for their connectivity to rest of the State and despite their repeated pleas to authorities no one at the helm of affairs is ready to listen their woes, sources added.
Sources said that Rs 57 lakh were spent on the excavation of a trench for the abetment and reinforcement and cement was also staked at the site with construction of a cement store there. Later this material was shifted from the site to some other place and work abandoned.
However when contacted, Managing Director JKPCC, T R Bhagat said that the work was stopped as the design of bridge was changed from single lane to intermediary lane and the same was sent to design consultancy New Delhi for approval.
He said the DPR of the project has also changed from Rs 10.35 crore to Rs 17 crore tentatively.
Mr Bhagat said as soon as the agency receives the approval of the design from the Consultancy it will start the work on the bridge. He expressed the hope that the agency will get the design approval within 15 to 20 days.
Rejecting this, the residents of the area said that they have been listening such arguments since 2011 that drawings and design has been changed and it will be approved within days but till date the work has not been resumed.
“This way the authorities were trying to buy more time as every time the people approached them they said that design was changed and the work will be started within days,” said Jagdish Raj Sharma, a local villager.
He said Mr Azad approved the bridge in 2007 when he was the Chief Minister of the State. At that time the people demanded that a double lane bridge be constructed instead of single lane but he advised that no body can sanction the double lane due to paucity of funds and for the convenience of the people he approved the motorable bridge at that time.
“We think that authorities are deceiving the people as they are not interested in the construction of the bridge the hopes for which were generated in 2007 among the masses by Mr Azad’’ he added.
“A population of over 60,000 villages is in trouble due to delay in construction of the bridge as the distance which they would otherwise cover in 10 minutes to half an hour with the construction of motorable bridge is covered by them from 2-30 hours to three hours,” said Chuni Lal Wazir another villager. This is also not economically viable for these poor people as for Rs 10 journey they have to pay over Rs one hundred, he added.
He said for reaching National Highway the people have to cross the cradle box at Naseb Naar or they have to cross the dangerous Golan nallah where many lives have been already washed away in river Chenab. This is a nightmarish experience for the entire population, he added.
He said situation has become difficult for old, ailing and pregnant women while shifting them to district hospitals or the college going students.
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