WE THE PEOPLE
Governmental directions to display information about developmental works to ensure transparency stand flouted, totally ignored
Hence people seek Guv’s intervention to get orders implemented to uphold specifications, demand speedy completion of NH-Bypass
By: M. Shirjeel
Srinagar: The previous government of Jammu and Kashmir had made it mandatory for all Departments to display information about works under execution to ensure transparency. The concerned officials had been directed to display salient features, both physical and financial, at prominent places at District, Tehsil and Block levels on painted walls or erected boards so that people know what is being done by different agencies in their areas. This also aimed at monitoring and plugging loopholes. Admittedly Public vigilance is always better than State vigilance and thus bound to be more productive and effective to improve quality of public utility works. Besides public participation in State activities develops civic sense in a big way.
No doubt, many developmental projects under various programmes of the Central Government stand taken up by the State agencies for execution, but general masses are interested to know the slow pace of most of such projects, especially that of 4-lanning National Highway Bye-pass Project which has solved less and created more problems so far. The work was taken up under Central Government’s overall Highways Development Programme some years back to widen the 2-lane highway to 4-lane from Panthachowk to Parimpora. It is reported that it shall be 17.80 kilometres long, with formation width of 10 meters. Under the scheme it is proposed to increase the top width to 24 meters with dual carriageway. It is to have 4.5 meter central verge and additional service roads from Pohru Junction to Tengpora Bridge. There shall be 4 no. Additional bridges and a flyover, costing Rs.38 crores. The total cost of the Project is estimated at Rs.168 crores.
“ We observe the tempo of developmental activities has dipped down after the fall of Azad Government as is substantiated by the dismal performance of the engineers at National Highway By-pass Project.As a matter of fact, the main highway should have been widened from Qazigund to Baramulla and not only from Panthachowk to Parimpora. No doubt, this portion is going to help in the diversion of heavy loaded vehicles, giving relief to the city of Srinagar. But the authorities have disrupted the entire drainage and irrigation system in the area by widening the road. Our paddy growing areas have stopped yielding any crop as irrigation supplies stand totally disrupted. Moreover, the residential areas located on either side of the highway have been facing acute drainage problem as there is no proper outlet to waste and surface water. We have been approaching UEED and Irrigation Department to remedy the situation, but they blame the Engineers of the National Highway Bye-pass for total disruption of their systems. Although we are not technical experts, yet we anticipate failure of the highway whenever there is submergence of the areas on its either side”, said a group of persons of Rawalpora, Goripora and Hyderpora.
“Since the widening of the highway has disrupted age-old irrigation and drainage system completely, so providing alternate drainage channels has become a necessity. There is urgent need to have two deep drains on either side of the highway from Rawalpora to Tengpora, where Doodganga Nallah cuts the highway. The drains can function by gravity whenever water level in Doodganga is low and the drainage water can be pumped out whenever the levels in the Nallah are high. The said drains shall not only provide relief to the inhabitants, but shall protect the highway against erosion due to accumulation of water on either side of the highway. Moreover, the Irrigation Department in consultation with the National Highway Bye-pass Authorities should devise and means to bring paddy growing areas under irrigation. Non-supply of water to these areas has not only deprived us of bread and butter,” said a group of Zamindars and some keen Watchers of Kashmir valley.
Hence people have sought intervention by the State Governor to get government orders implemented so that people remain abreast with all public-utility works and exercise vigil over such development Projects. This will go a long way in improving specifications and quality of works. Besides they demand speedy completion of National Highway By-pass project, which has created more problems in the area than solved any.
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