Srinagar, Nov 15: Several residential houses near Hyderpora square have developed cracks due to the ongoing construction of flyover, the inhabitants complained.
 According to the residents, the work on the 880 meter long flyover on the highway, caused cracks because the deep trenches dug to raise pillars were left open for long.
 This not only caused the bypass to sink but loosened the soil in the nearby residential houses as well causing the cracks.
 “The work on the flyover has been going on for more than two years. But the slow work coupled with heavy vehicular movement badly loosened the soil causing cracks,” said Muhammad Maqbool Dar, a resident, whose house has developed cracks.
 “My entire house has been damaged. There are cracks in every room, including lobby and washrooms,” he said while pointing towards the cracks.
 Dar said the clinic of his son, a doctor situated outside his residence has also developed huge cracks.
 Many other locals voiced similar complaints.
  “Before starting such heavy work at the site, the engineers should have gone for soil testing to see if the residential houses could withstand the strain of the heavy construction work,” said a local ,an engineer by profession.
 Pertinently, the Roads and Building (R&B) department is constructing the flyover under the highway widening plan.
 “The R&B is responsible for the damage to our structures and they have to compensate us for the liabilities,” the residents said.
 Some months ago, following similar complaints, the MoS for Housing and Urban Development Nasir Sogami had claimed to have directed the authorities to file a comprehensive report on the losses so that the “victims could be accorded compensation.”
 But till now, the residents said, his promise remains a promise.
 Despite repeated attempts, the R&B officials couldn’t be contacted for comment.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 IST