Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 28: A large number of people from Akhnoor, Khour and Pargwal area of Jammu district, including BJP activists conducted `Gherao’ of the office of JKPCC agency of R&B Department and staged massive protest demonstration followed by day long dharna at Rail Head Complex here on the second consecutive day today.
MLA Akhnoor from BJP, Rajiv Sharma was leading the protest. These people were shouting slogans against State Government and the top officials from R&B and JKPCC for causing delay in the construction of longest bridge worth Rs 205 crore over river Chenab, connecting Pargwal directly with Khour and Akhnoor Sub Divisional Headquarters. They also raised slogans against the R&B Minister, Commissioner/ Secretary R&B, Sanjeev Verma and JKPCC Managing Director, Dalip Thussu. They alleged that some top officers including MD and people having vested interests in the Coalition Government, were trying to derail an important bridge project of Jammu district.
The BJP activists including Mandal presidents and other office bearers from both these constituencies and Blocks besides people from Pargwal, Khour and Akhnoor came to Jammu and assembled at the office complex of JKPCC at Rail Head Complex at around 11 am today again. They entered the office and made all the employees to come out. All the employees came out in the lawns and protesting people sat on dharna at the main entrance and restricted the movement of the employees inside for several hours. The normal work in the office remained affected on the second day.
Click here to Watch Video
Talking to media persons at the JKPCC complex, MLA Akhnoor Rajiv Sharma claimed that this agitation of Akhnoor, Khour, Jourian, Pargwal and Pallanwalla people will be continued till it reaches the logical conclusion. He said the top BJP leadership led by State BJP chief Sat Sharma, MP and five MLAs met the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and then to the R&B Minister Naeem Akhtar but it is unfortunate that despite clear instructions and assurance by the both the financial bid has not been opened by the MD JKPCC and other members of the Committee. Now, they have involved Commissioner/ Secretary in their game plan to delay this project for their vested interests. He said after clearing technical bid, 120 days time was given to the three major companies including Gammon and Singla. They sought extension of 90 days. Again after expiry of this period, two more extensions of 30 days were sought. They have to just allot the work to the lowest bidder but MD, Commissioner R&B and other members of the Bid Committee were playing in the hands of a few local contractors or those within the Government having vested interests. He demanded that the black sheep in the Government and in the JKPCC Ltd should be identified and thrown out by declaring `dead wood’.
The MLA further alleged that we have now enough evidences that Jammu’s interest is being sabotaged by the MD JKPCC and a few top bureaucrats at the behest of some vested interests within the Government and outside. They have failed to complete tender process in last one and half year. Sharma said what is the problem with them when entire funding is being made by Government of India for this most vital bridge. He said this bridge will be the lifeline for the people of Pargwal, who get trapped during Pakistani firing. Moreover, this is the two decades old demand of the people of this area.
Jai Singh Manhas, State convenor of BJP Border Cell from Pragwal said that people of Pargwal have suffered a lot during last several decades. They had been demanding bridge since long. But now when Government of India sanctioned funds, some top officers having nexus with some local contractors and people are deliberately trying to sabotage this project. He said in coming days, people will block Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch highway and create law and order problems. The Chief Minister, DyCM and Divisional Administration will be solely responsible for any wrong done, Manhas said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
