Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 7: Residents of Bakiaker hamlet in Handwara area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district have been facing extreme hardships for more than 10 years as a result of the absence of a concrete bridge.
The locals said that the Handwara division of the Roads and Buildings Department restored the existing bridge after it was damaged by flash floods in 2014. However, they said that despite numerous requests from the locals, no replacement bridge has been built.
Locals claim that they frequently approached the Handwara division of the Roads and Buildings department to request the replacement of the old bridge and its repair. However, to the dismay of the people, the department did not do anything more than fix the old bridge.
“Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) have had to take a longer route as a result of the lack of a new bridge, raising the cost of transportation. A number of homes have been destroyed as a result of emergency services, such as fire tenders, being delayed in their response,” locals said.
The locals said the horticultural industry, which is the main source of income for the majority of locals, has been impacted by the lack of a bridge. They claimed that despite being 4 km from Sub District Handwara, the Bakiaker village’s 600 homes had not received even the most basic services from previous administrations. “We have made many requests to the relevant authority, but no remedy has been provided,” locals said.
The residents demanded the intervention of DC Kupwara and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to fulfil their long pending demands.
Before beginning construction on the bridge, an official of the Roads and Buildings Department’s (R&B) Handwara division revealed that they were awaiting funding approval.
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