Residents facing threat of soil erosion as officials delay construction of retaining wall

By
Daily Excelsior
-

Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Nov 1: The inhabitants of Pyt Bandichechina block Nangali Sahib Sain Babba (NSSB) have expressed their deep concern over delay in the construction of development works in the area under MGNREGA despite the repeated pleas by the residents of the area to the concerned authorities of the Rural Development Department (RDD).
In a statement issued here, today the residents of the area said that Soil Conservation retaining walls are to be constructed in the area to protect the land from soil erosion and safety of adjoining residential houses in the area. They said that a deputation of the people had already met to Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD), Poonch informing him that 10 to 12 families in the area are under threat as their houses may get collapsed due to soil erosion in the area in case immediate steps were not taken for construction of retaining wall.
The aggrieved residents said that the construction of retaining wall was necessary to protect these houses from damage due to soil erosion and when the Government has framed a scheme for this purpose why the authorities were delaying in implementation of the same.
The residents through their representative and prominent Gujjar leader, Shamsheer Hakla Poonchi had also submitted a memorandum to ACD, Poonch over half a year ago and the ACD has forwarded the same to BDO, block NSSB on July 20 this year but after the lapse of over three months no action has been taken on the part of the concerned BDO with the result the residents are facing threat to their houses in the event of rain fall.
Shamsheer Hakla Poonchi said despite the fact that ACD has asked the BDO to take necessary action he is sleeping over the issue. Hakla has sought the intervention of higher authorities including Lt Governor , Manoj Sinha and Commissioner Secretary, RDD in the matter. He said it is not known that on one hand Government claims that the UT is on the path of development and on the other hand the officers are sleeping over files.

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