FOLLOW-UP
Srinagar, Mar 2: In contravention of recent government orders, various departments including Road and Buildings, dump the construction material on main roads causing immense inconvenience to the pedestrians and motorists while observers term it  traffic-hazard.
 As if it was not enough, the concerned departments have not even bothered to get mandatory approval from the Traffic Police department, thus adding to peoples’ woes in the name of undertaking developmental activities. 
 Last month, the government issued standing directions to the various departments involved in construction activities not to leave any construction material on the roads. The orders, however, have been clearly violated.
 The Road and Buildings department, which is reconstructing the dividers on the City’s busy, Maulana Azad Road, has dumped the construction material on the road itself.
 “It seems the concerned officials who are overseeing the works have not applied their mind. The construction material including boulders have been kept in the middle of the road. Many cars have suffered damages after hitting the stones. Action should be initiated against the concerned officials for deliberately hampering vehicular movement,” said Ghulam Muhammad, a retired govt employee who was struck in traffic jam due to dumping of construction material near the Women’s college.
 The problem was more severe near the under construction bridge between Gurdaw Kadal and Khonakhan. The executing agency, JKPCC has blocked half the stretch of narrow road by dumping steel, concrete and other construction material.
 “Many pedestrians had a narrow escape when the vehicles lost control due to road blocks in shape construction material for the bridge. The contractors have not only constructed various sheds on roads but even placed generators. It has become difficult for pedestrians to move through the stretch,” the locals said. 
 Officials of the Traffic department said it was mandatory for the government department or other constructing agencies to seek its permission before undertaking any construction activity.
 The Superintendent of Police, Traffic (Kashmir), Showkat Hussain said “it is ironical that the Road and Buildings department undertook the work without our consent.”
 “The haphazard dumping of construction material has created traffic hazards on the busy road. Due to the road blocks it becomes difficult for our men to ensure smooth flow of traffic. I have shot notice to the concerned departments to clear the road blocks at earliest,” the SP said.
 The SP said he had passed strict instructions to traffic cops not to allow dumping of any construction material on the road during daytime. “But the concerned department dump the material during night. I will be taking up the matter with higher authorities,” the SP added.   
 When contacted the Additional District Development Commissioner, Srinagar, Sarmad Hafiz acknowledged the problem.
 “We are aware that the dumping of the construction material on road hampers vehicular and pedestrian movement. In fact we have directed the heads of the concerned departments to speed up the work and remove the material from construction spots on war-footing. Hopefully the problem will be resolved on priority,” Sarmad said.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 2 Mar 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 2 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 3 Mar 2010 00:00:00 IST