Govind Sharma
SAMBA, June 5: Despite repeated claims of the successive Governments in the State to provide road connectivity to every village, Paddel village in tehsil Bari-Brahmana has no road connectivity whereas the village is just 6 kilometres from famous pilgrimage destination ‘Purmandal’.
Having population of about 500 souls, the village remained neglected by successive political representatives. Despite locating close to Purmandal, the village has no accessible road due to which inhabitants have been suffering badly. The villagers have to walk several kilometers on harsh terrain to board a bus from Purmandal.
“About 10 years back, a narrow ‘kuccha’ road was constructed by Rural Development Department under MNREGA scheme by cutting the hills but there are so many sharp turns and the road is not so wide that even a tractor can reach the village,” the villagers alleged and accused the authorities for ignoring their sufferings.
They said in monsoon season, this ‘kuccha’ road becomes a death zone due to slippery conditions but as there is no other alternate, they have to put their lives in danger. “This is a perfect example of how neglected this village is,” the inhabitants said, adding they feel cheated by successive Governments for that they vote hoping that they will removing their sufferings by providing them a ‘pucca’ road.
Inhabitants of this village are also facing severe water crisis. Though PHE Department has laid water supply line in the village, but the taps remain dry in this village. The residents alleged that they get supply only once in a month. They said that there are 40-45 houses in the village and for their water requirements, all the families depend on two nallahs (natural sources), which are about 1.5 km from the village.
“There are two water wells in the village but in summer season, these wells go dry and every house hold has to travel a long distance to fetch water from the nallah for drinking, cooking and for washing clothes and utensils,” said a woman of the village who was heading towards her home carrying a pot of water on his head from a natural source.
The villagers told that the matter was brought time and again into the notice of several district administrators, political leaders and concerned officers but neither the water crisis was solved nor the village got a proper motorable road.
Ashok Kumar Padgotra, XEn, Rural Development Department, Samba, said that in November 2017, on the instructions of the then Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, he had made a DPR for a ‘pucca’ road from Devka to Paddel village with an estimated cost of 1.32 crore but the DPR was sent back by the then ACD saying it is not feasible.
“Again about three months back, I sent the project for approval but it was sent back from the office of Director Rural Development Department due to the reasons best known to them,” he said, adding he will continue to push for the project as people of this hilly village are really suffering in the absence of a proper motorable road.
When contacted, Director, Rural Development Department, Rehana Batul, said that there would be certainly some inadequacies in the project report due to which it might not be accepted. However, the Director assured that she will personally look into the matter.
Executive Engineer, PHE Department, Samba, Ajay Gupta said, “Yes, there is water crisis in Paddel village but it is temporary due to breakdown of machinery. He said there are five villages which are suffering due to some mechanical fault but Paddel is most suffering as the village has no accessible road due to which we cannot even provide them tanker supply”. He said that within 2-3 days, the fault will be removed and water supply will be restored to all the five villages.
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