Ladoora, (Rafiabad), Apr 2: Two years after the work on footbridge connecting this village with Nagabal started, the construction is still going on at a snails pace.
 Following widespread demonstration after the boat capsized in the flood channel passing through Ladoora-Nagabal, on July 12 in 2007, claiming six lives, the then Congress-PDP government announced the construction of the suspension bridge between the two areas at an estimated cost of Rs 85 lakh. 

 “The work has been stopped two to three times in past two years,” a villager Abdul Rashid said adding the lack of connectivity was creating immense problems for the local populace.
 For Ladoora residents, boat connectivity is the only link to the other uninhabited side of Jhelum popularly known as Nagabal comprising 3000 Kanals of orchards.
 The channel was dug between Ladoora and Nagabal by flood control department during the Bakshi Ghulam Muhammad period, the residents said adding the temporary wooden bridge constructed 30-years was damaged in 90s, forcing the people to use boats for crossing over.
 “We face problems in ferrying apple cartons in boats every season and the boatmen also charge hefty amounts for transportation,” the villagers said, adding 11 people had drowned in the flood channel so far.

Officials speak:
 The executive, superintending and chief engineer of the Irrigation Department gave three different versions about the delay in the bridge construction.
 The executive engineer, Sohan Lal told Greater Kashmir that they had given final notice to the contractor to finish the work. “The department has asked him to complete the work at an earliest or he would be replaced by another contractor to finish the task,” he said, adding Rs 70 lakh had been spent on the project.
 The superintending engineer, Zahoor Ahmed Tak, said the delay was due to time consumption in approval in design approval which took one and half year. “We would finish work within three months,” he assured.
 When contacted chief engineer, Najeebullah Mir said the work should have been completed on the bridge till now. “I would inquire about it and I think they would have completed all work except cabling,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 2 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 2 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 3 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST