14,000 population of Panchount waiting for bridge since 1988
Gopal Sharma
UDHAMPUR, Aug 28: Abandoned about 27 years ago, a much needed foot-bridge for huge population over river Tawi at Dudu town continued to face Government apathy while over 14,000 population of two Panchayats of Panchount besides Kirchi and some adjoining villages in remote Dudu Sub Division of district Udhampur are waiting for another foot bridge over Tawi since 1988.
A population of over 14,000 souls of about half a dozen remote villages and over score of hamlets of Dudu area, are exposed to the risk to their lives, especially during the flood when they cross the river on long logs of wood being used as temporary bridge since decades. On several occasions, mishaps took place on this bridge and three persons were washed away 4-5 years ago but Administration did not take lesson from it.
Most unfortunate and hapless people from Panchount Panchayats have lost about a dozen members durig past two decades due to absence of any bridge on river Tawi during rainy seasons. A Government teacher lost his wife and minor son in flood near Kukain Bali in flooded Tawi two years ago while his daughter was saved by the locals, a villager from Panchount said.
Sarpanch Bodh Raj from Panchount-1 Panchayat told the Excelsior that people from Panchount area by contributing money had raised a temporary foot bridge over river Tawi near Kukain Bali. This was the only link for them to Dudu, Jakhed and Latti town. But this bridge was washed away in flood during 1988. Now, for the last 32 years, they are projecting issue of bridge with the concerned MLAs, Deputy Commissioners, SDMs of Dudu Sub Division and visiting senior officers, but the voice of over 14000 people of the area has remained unheard.
He said the villagers led by 4-5 Sarpanches also met the then Advisor, Khursheed Ganai and later to Advisor Farooq Khan at Jammu. They assured to resolve their most genuine and burning issue on priority but nothing has been done so far by the Lt Governior’s administration as well.
The Sarpanch further said locals raise make shift bridge by laying long logs of wood on the rocks of the river but frequent floods wash away the logs. For the last three days again, the whole population of the area is locked as logs have again washed away due to rain and flood. Their children can not go to schools. They can not fetch essential supplies from Jakhed, Latti or Dudu as there is no passage. He said Panchount area has lost about 10 people so far in floods in the absence of any bridge. The Higher Secondary School is at Jakhed or Latti and the children of the area remain stranded many times during flood in the river. And if a permanent bridge is sanctioned for this area, the people will have great sigh of relief, Sarpanch maintained.
Krishan Lal, Sarpanch Panchount-2 also projected the issue strongly and demaned that another bridge over Tawi at Dudu town near J&K Bank branch was abandoned about 27 years ago by the R&B authorities. Many public funds were wasted and the work was left half way. This could also be an alternative vital link for some population of this belt. No agency conducted any inquiry into the matter or punished concerned officials.
Sarpanch Dev Raj from Dudu revealed that this foot bridge about 200 ft in length at Lower Dudu was sanctioned about 27 years back by the Government. The Government also released funds and R&B started work and also raised concrete platform at right bank of the river. The compensation to the two families was also paid, but despite that the R&B abandoned the work for the reason best known to the people at the helm of affairs. The work could not be resumed on the foot bridge till today despite many requests to the respective Deputy Commissioners at Udhampur and other visiting officers during over past two decades.
He further said that this bridge was very vital for the population of over 14000 souls from Kirchi, Panchount, Phalangt, Chari, Bangla, Shivgalli, Thiru- Padder as it falls on old route and is considered to be the shortest one. Moreover, J&K Bank, SDM office and several other offices and schools are closer to the people from over half a dozen villages and many hamlets. Students of the area coming to Govt High School Dudu and Higher Secondary School at Jakhed and two other schools at Dudu also take this route. It becomes very risky to cross river over logs during flood and rain. Several times flood in Tawi washed away the logs being used as bridge. The public is suffering during rainy season without a foot bridge at this location over river Tawi.
Sarpanch Latti, Kasturi Lal Gupta said that another bridge over Tawi on Sira-Kulakh-Bajeen Road is very important. The Road under PMGSY up to Chaj is in progress but bridge has not been constructed on the river as it is yet to be sanctioned. He demanded early construction of bridge and said that this road via Tanaas will reduce the distance between Latti and Chenani by 18 kms.
SDM Dudu, PS Chib when contacted said that during visit of DC Udhampur, Dr Piyush Singla to Dudu Sub Division in the recent past, he and villagers of the area narrated him the whole matter. Some funds were also sanctioned during the period of the then DC Ravinder Kumar and RDD authorities were asked to start work on foot bridge at Kukain, but the Rural Development authorities/REW refused to take up the work due to technical issues and inadequate funds. He said R&B Udhampur has also prepared a DPR worth Rs 1.75 cr for this bridge but the sanction is yet awaited.
Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Dr Piyush Singla when contacted said that this bridge for the people of Panchount in Dudu at Kukain Bali take up point was his priority. Singla said he had stopped at the point near Kukain during his visit to Dudu area. He had listned to the villagers there and directed the RDD authorities to take up this foot bridge under MGNREGA but they later refused to take up the work due to some technical reasons, telling that it was beyond their capacity. The DC said that he would take up matter with the R&B authorities Udhampur also and see for the funding options from some other sources.
Regarding bridge abandoned by R&B at Dudu, the Deputy Commissioner said this issue was not in his knowledge. But assured to hold inquiry into the matter and look for the provision of funds under languishing projects.
SE, R&B Circle, Udhampur, Shakti Sagar admitted that work on this foot bridge over Tawi at Dudu town was abandoned by the R&B about 25 years ago due to paucity of funds. He said this 91.00 mts span foot bridge at Dudu town was approved by Planning and Development Department after application for accord of administrative approval was moved on 14-4-1990, amounting to Rs 12.06 lakhs. Then again on 23-8-1995, a revised proposal of Rs 42.42 lakh was sent by R&B Udhampur Division for administrative approval and completion of bridge works. Work worth Rs 9.93 lakh was allotted to a constractor for works but only one side abetment and tower could be raised. Due to paucity of funds remaining work could not be completed.
Sagar said then again on 30-5-2007, another revised proposal worth Rs 97 .50 lakh was sent to the Government. But there was no progress on the project for a decade. Then yet again, on the direction of the then Commissioner / Secretary, R&B another DPR worth Rs 181.18 lakhs was prepared and sent to the Govt on July 19, 2017 for the same bridge, which is still pending for clearance, the SE maintained.
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