Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 14: Several habitations of erstwhile Doda, Kathua and Reasi districts have been deprived of the benefits of Prime Minister Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) as work on 24 roads taken up under this Centrally Sponsored Scheme has been abandoned by a company, which was allotted the contract for the execution of the work several years back because of some internal disputes. In the given circumstances, nobody knows when these roads would be completed and provide much needed connectivity to unconnected habitations.
Sources told EXCELSIOR that the contract for construction of 24 roads under the Prime Minister Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was allotted to a Hyderabad company—M/s GVPR Engineering Limited during 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 financial years at the cost of Rs 156.93 crore.
“Initially, the work could not be taken up because of delay in obtaining forest clearances and land acquisition. When the work gained momentum, the company started facing some internal disputes and this led to halting of work on all the 24 roads”, they said, adding “at present the fate of these roads is hanging in balance and there is strong resentment among the population, which was to be benefited following the completion of these roads”.
In response to a question, sources said, “work ranging between 35% to 50% was carried out on these 24 PMGSY roads when the work came to grinding halt”, adding “keeping in view the growing resentment among the people, the concerned authorities in the State are contemplating to take stern action against the company because people cannot be deprived of benefit of Centrally Sponsored Scheme for more period because of internal disputes of the company”.
“Moreover, the non-completion of these roads is against the essence of this flagship scheme, which was launched by the Union Government to provide all weather road connectivity in the rural areas”, sources said, adding “if the work on these roads is not taken up at the earliest the expenditure incurred till date would become unfruitful and compel the people of those habitations, which were to be provided all weather connectivity would come on roads to seek justice”.
These PMGSY roads, whose fate is hanging in balance, are Gawari to Bharthi, Sungri to Bugudas, Budhan to Lancha, Gran Morh to Sakal Ghatti, Bhalra to Gurekha, Chakri to Kalahand, Bhaboor to Jigote, Udainpur to Hancha, Dali to Kaloo, Atholi to Palali, B B Bhagwah to Kotli, Beoli to Koti, Bershalla to Dhar, Changa to Thaloran, Bhagwa to Dessa, Kagote to Lehri, Gulabgarh to Ligri, Kahog to Bhatodi, Panchari to Namol, Nan Galla to Duli, Bhall to Shibrass, K K Road to Keshwan Nagani, Machhedi to Drabar and K K Road to Dhabadan.
“Majority of these roads are in erstwhile Doda district where road connectivity is already poor and representatives of people are frequently raising the issue at different fora”, sources said, adding “ensuring that there is no further delay in completion of these roads is also imperative as road connectivity is directly associated with the improvement in economic condition of inhabitants of any area particularly in the hilly districts”.
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