Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 26: Upper House today witnessed noisy scenes after the Government tried to evade responsibility over the construction and widening of the Srinagar-Jammu Highway, saying the project is being executed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).
“It is not our R&B Department but the NHAI which is seeing the project on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway,” said Vikar Rasool, Minister Incharge of Public Works (R&B) Department while replying to a question of MLC, Bashir Ahmad Veeri in the Legislative Council during the Question Hour.
“Had it (NHAI) been in our control we would have asked them about it,” Rasool said. But the answer provoked the members of the House, both ruling National Conference and principal opposition People’s Democratic Party.
Veeri said the Government is answerable to people. “What is the role of the Government then if it cannot take up their issues with the people who matter,” he asked.
“Delay in progress of works on NH-1A from Srinagar to Banihal was primarily due to difficulties faced on account of land acquisition, court cases and also due to inadequate mobilization of funds by concessionaires,” the Minister replied.
Veeri in an angry tone told the Minister that he was not satisfied with the answer.
“You have not provided me with full details. I am not satisfied with your reply,” he said in a high pitched voice.
Other members in the House chipped in and rose on their feet in support of the NC MLC, Veeri.
Najeeb Suharwardy of NC said if the Government has such type of attitude toward this only one road that links the State with rest of the world what will be state of other roads. “The Government is careless” he said.
Over this, the Minister told the House that there was no carelessness from the Government. “R&B has no role in construction of the Highway,” he said.
MLC Rafiq Shah of Panthers Party said that the Government has a representative character and if the Government did not show that what was its role then.
Veeri said the Minister was wasting the time of the House. But Rasool replied that Chief Minister himself has taken keen interest in completion of the road. He accepted that the work has been delayed.
As the situation was turning noisy, Chairman Legislative Council Amrit Malhotra intervened and said the Government has not shown its seriousness as much as the question deserved.
Malhotra asked the Minister that he should look into the matter that why has the work not being completed on the National Highway.
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