Excelsior Correspondent
Pulwama, Aug 19: The Government has failed to construct two vital bridges in Awantipora area over river Jehlum, forcing about scores of villages to travel miles on foot and cross risky Jehlum by boat to reach highway in Anantnag.
With no bridges, the people of the area are going through a lot of trouble as they have to walk miles to reach the highway and travel towards Anantnag or Srinagar districts. Even some villagers cross the river by boat to reach Sangam town at Pujteng, but during inclement weather or rising water level in the river, they prefer to stay away.
People, especially those who need immediate attention and pregnant mothers, are finding it difficult to access the health centre and students have to consume a lot of time in traveling between school and home.
Work on the Dogripora and Reshipora bridges was launched in March 2008, but five years after the executing agency, Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation, has built only a portion of these bridges.
JKPCC officials say they cannot commit themselves to working on the bridge before the funds are available.
“The estimated cost of the bridge is Rs 14.38 crore, but the Government has released a paltry amount of Rs 2.14 crore. Total amount of funds with the project authority is 12.24 crore,” the DGM of J&K PCC, Khursheed Ahmed Wani, said.
The Deputy General Manager pointed out that the work has been delayed on bridge because it has not a defined funding agency, and the funds had not been budgeted.
Similarly, Reshipora Bridge has not been built yet due to the Government not releasing funds for its completion.
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