STATE TIMES NEWS
BHADARWAH: To express their resentment over the dilly delaying tactics and alleged pathetic attitude towards the poor villagers since more than four decades, people from Qilla, Kahie, Puneja and adjoining areas of Tehsil Bhadarwah held a protest against the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and local administration on Sunday for the worst condition of Bhadarwah-Bani-Basohli Road in the area.
According to reports, dozens of villagers gathered at Kahie Mohalla and Puneja village simultaneously on Bhadarwah-Basholi National Highway to protest against the 144 RCC of Border Road Organisation. While raising slogans against the BRO, elected representatives and civil administration, they blocked highway by erecting obstacles and laying barbed wires across the road. The protestors alleged that due to the callous and inhuman attitude of the BRO/GREF authorities, villagers have been exposed to several hardships for the last 10 years, the residents living along Bhadarwah-Basoli Road are literally living under thick blanket of dust as despite several representations, 114 RCC instead of blacktoping the road passing through residential areas have been laying bitumen in the forest and far off areas for unknown reasons.
An elderly protesting villager Liaqat Ali said that foundation stone of this vital road was laid in 1970 and since then, we have been helplessly waiting for its completion and to add salt to our wounds, Instead of black topping the inhabited areas, 114 RCC started laying bitumen from middle of the forest at Guldanda area resulting in chaos for poor villagers”. Due to the worst condition of the road, we have been deliberately forced to live under inhuman condition as there are not only accidents but our agricultural and horticulture produce is also getting affected badly due to the thick layer of dust. “We will continue and intensify the protest unless theourir demands are met with, he added.”
Villagers while seeking immediate attention and intervention of Civil administration and elected representatives to save them from the mess created by BRO, alleged that besides incurring huge losses in agriculture and horticulture due thick layer of dust on their produce, dozens of Villagers, especially children have fallen sick and have been diagnosed with dust pneumonia and other eye and lung diseases.
Despite repeated efforts Additional Deputy Commissioner Bhadarwah, Imam Din Kichloo did not responded to the calls, however Executive Magistrate Bhadarwah Masood Ahmed, said that we have already taken up the matter with our higher ups and BRO authorties simultaneously to settle the issue amicably. “BRO has informed us that there is some dispute with the contractor resulting in inordinate delay. As of now they have sought sometime for inviting fresh tenders. We are hopeful to get the macadamisation process started in the area soon” he maintained.
