Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar Oct 9: Legislators cutting across the party lines today targeted the Government for not providing sufficient funds for completion of the work on the bridges in their constituencies.
The Legislators alleged that the work on the bridges in their constituencies is pending due to lack of funds. They demanded completion of work on these bridges on fast track basis.
While raising the issue of bridges in his constituency that have not been completed for past several years, PDP MLA Basharat Bukhari wanted to know the status of work and completion time. He alleged that the Government has stopped funds for various bridges leading to their incompletion and wanted to know from the Minister about the release of funds for these bridges.
Ruling National Conference’s MLA Sopore, Mohammad Ashraf Ganaie said that while the work on Sopore Bypass bridge in his constituency was taken up 11 years ago, it is yet to be completed.
“I was told the work could not be completed due to earthquake. The other reasons given were snowfall and floods. Then another was that there was unrest in Sopore. Is Sopore the only place in the State, where snowfall, earthquake take place and where there was unrest?” Ganaie asked.
Roads and Buildings Minister Abdul Majid Wani, said Border Road Organisation (BRO) was constructing the bridge in Sopore and a final notice has been served to it for completing the work.
Wani also said the BRO had sought compensation for cost escalation due to delay in the work, which has been provided, after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took up the matter with the Centre. He assured the Legislator that the bridge will be completed by the end of the year.
The MLA Rajpora, Syed Bashir Ahmad said work on the Brancha bridge in his constituency is going at snail’s pace due to paucity of funds. The work was started in 2007 and the bridge is still not ready. “I was told that the work on Brancha bridge in my (Rajpora) constituency could not be completed as a snake was seen there”, he said.
The issue of bridges was also raised by several other MLAs including GM Saroori of Congress and PDP’s Peerzada Mansoor. However, the Minister failed to provide information.
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