Tral (Pulwama): The Nagapathri-Lalpora road in Tral is a clinical example of official apathy, callousness and lethargic approach to mitigate common mans problem. Ten years have passed and the five kilometer road is yet to be any where near completion.
“Our sufferings don’t matter to governments but what matters is that we should pay tax in time. In return we should keep dreaming that one day we will receive dividends of being tax payers,” residents of Nagapathri village of Tral complain.
Work on the road started under Pradan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojina (PMGSY) in 2008 but its no where to be completed.
“The work is continuously being suspended. The officials whenever enquired about the work raise their voices and shoo us away,” they claimed.
The residents say that patients and the students, in particular are facing immense hardships due to the potholes and rocky road.
“It is very unfortunate that concerned department has increased our miseries as the road is in dilapidated condition,” Mohammad Qasim, a resident of Nagapathri village said.
They say that the bad road and the shambles condition of the stretch created by the authorities have only increased their sufferings.
“To fetch basic items from Lalpora and Ourigund areas has become so difficult for us,” Qasim said, adding that ‘no one is ready to lend them an ear and to give them a sigh of relief’.
The bad road has not only increased problems but there are other issues as well. The area is wildlife prone zone and travelling through ‘this road can be dangerous anytime’.
Assistant Executive Engineer PMGSY Pulwama, Harbans Singh, said that road estimate for easing of grade and other activities stands submitted to higher authorities for further process.
“As soon as any direction comes, follow up action shall be taken accordingly,” Singh claimed.
Residents however rued that ‘ten years have not had any impact on the authorities to be serious and it seems that none listens to them’.
“We would appeal, that is all we can do, to Governor NN Vohra to intervene personaly and let the people have the sigh of relief with time bound contruction of the road,” they appealed.
“Chief Engineer PMGSY Kashmir should also look into it as to how it takes ten years for a road to complete,’ they urged.
