Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 16: Th Gulchain Singh Charak, former minister and President, Dogra Sadar Sabha (DSS), J&K, has expressed great concern over the damage caused to houses, cultivable lands, temples, schools, shops and commercial establishments of the people residing in Dalwas, Nashri, Kunfer, Peerah, Chanderkote, Karole, Neera and other villages due to unplanned execution of works by respective agencies, engaged under Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) Widening/ Four Laning Project in Ramban district.
Mr Charak, in a statement, drew attention of the Government towards the callous attitude adopted by the Project implementing agencies in the matter, as well as by the supervising agencies. He sought an urgent need to redress the grievances of suffering population, besides attending to other serious environmental concerns.
Mr Charak said that after on-spot visits and also while interacting with the local people during the meetings held in different villages, he was shocked to find that a number of houses, temples and commercial establishments of the area in Dalwas, Thanari, Peera, Neera and other villages, had developed wide cracks in their walls and ceilings. Many had totally collapsed due to ruthless earthwork and cutting of slopes during road widening and the cultivable lands were sliding, he added.
Initially, the District Development Commissioner, Ramban and Tehsildar Batote provided some temporary accommodation to affected families in Government schools and Company quarters at Dalwas, but nothing further and no proper compensation has been paid either, as alleged by the people there,” said Mr Charak, adding that the mulba from earth excavations during road widening was being thrown directly into the river Chenab, thereby giving an open invitation to disaster in the form of serious floods due to blockade of the River and backflow of water.
Mr Charak made a strong appeal to the administration to have proper mechanism for supervision of works and accountability under the Project to prevent any catastrophic impact in future. He also appealed Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to look into the whole issue personally as it required immediate follow up action by the UT administration as well as the Project Implementation Agency.
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