This is perhaps the third time that we are taking up the case of elusive Khour-Pargwal Bridge in these columns. Authorities have become thick skinned that they do not honour the orders of the Governor issued when he was at the helm of affairs. Why are the authorities obstinately delaying the vital project is now giving rise to many doubts? Are there vested interests at work? Are their saboteurs at work? Why covert efforts are made to bring in one or the other pretext to sabotage the construction of this vital bridge.
The geography and strategic importance of the proposed bridge is well known and beggars no further description. The area of Pargwal is linked to Jammu through only on small connecting road and that too is too close to the border. From military point of view this bridge could be the most vital link that would reduce the distance to Jammu from existing over 55 kilometers to just 14 or 15 kilometers. In rainy season the area gets water locked and hence cut off from the rest of Jammu till water recedes.Nearly 22,000 people live in the area and during the rainy season life becomes intolerable for them in all respects. It is the duty of the Government to come to their help. More particularly it is the duty of the elected Legislative Assembly member from this constituency to insist on the Government to solve the problems of the people. The vital bridge worth Rs 206 crore over river Chenab in Khour-Pargwal area of Akhnoor Sub Division in district Jammu would be the longest bridge in Northern India when completed. It is an irony that construction of such an important and vital bridge is being sabotaged as the concerned agency JKPCC has failed to finalize the contract even after the lapse of one year. The ill-fated bridge has a chequered history as thrice its site of construction has been changed and the fourth site now under discussion may not mature too. Although entire funding is being made by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways yet the State Government shows no inclination of taking up the project on priority basis.
The sad story of the bridge is that in response to call for financial tenders three reputed and premier companies of India sent in their tenders. But before these could be opened, a stay was applied by some interested party in the High Court which, however, the court rejected in March. This left the Government free to open the tenders and process the case. Interestingly, 23rd May was the last date for opening tenders and since it has not been kept the natural process is to re-tender it. That could take anything between 8-12 months. It means that the work would not start in one more year at least. It is evident that there are vested interests working covertly to sabotage the project and that is happening at bureaucratic level. We think that over-politicizing the project and deliberately procrastinating a decision is going to have serious repercussions in the civil society. It is learnt that concerned MLAs have threatened to go on hunger strike if the work is not expedited. Their strike and protest may snowball ultimately making things very difficult for the administrations. There is glaring incompetence and unwillingness in this case among the concerned officials who are taking undue advantage of the silence of the suffering of the people. There is no technical lacuna in the blueprint. Just pretexts are made about the site and it is unbelievable that more than a year has passed and the authorities are not able to identify a site. We hope our insistence on the Government will bring about positive results. It has also to be reminded that this area is within the range of Pakistani shelling and firing which takes place recurrently. As a result, many people have either to seek shelter within their homes or run for life to save them. This factor cannot be ignored in view of Pakistani firing becoming a regular phenomenon in J&K.
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