Kupwara, Apr 3: The inhabitants of Chaki Drugmulla and Hatmulla here are up in arms against the alleged Government’s failure to reconstruct the collapsed bridge over river Pohru, which connects these two areas.
 “The 225 feet long wooden bridge suffered extensive damage and collapsed last year following unprecedented rise in the water level of the river,” the residents said, adding the people were facing huge inconvenience due to bridge collapse.
 “After the incident, the officials visited the spot and assured villagers that the bridge would be reconstructed soon. But till date no structure has been raised. Though the authorities have kept a boatman who takes people across the river, but during heavy downpour, the boatman is not able to sail the boat across it following rise in water level. This keeps the entire areas cut off from major routes including those leading to hospital, schools and market,” the residents said adding the villages many a times remain cut off for five to six days till water recedes.
 The residents said the villages which remain cut off during rainfall include: Shatwari, Nagri Malpora, Hotarpora, Krishipora, and Bubernaag. “The authorities are playing with the lives of people,” Tariq Ahmad told Greater Kashmir.  
 According to the residents, the people have to accompany children up to the boat and are always apprehensive about their crossing over to the other side. “During the rainy days, we don’t send our wards to schools,” the inhabitants said.
 He said the absence of bridge was also marring the marriage prospects of those living in both areas. “The absence of bridge has created problems for our brothers and sisters as no one accepts their marriage proposals,” he added.
 When contacted, R&B Engineer, Noor-Ul-Hassan, said, “The contractor, who had taken over the construction of the bridge failed to dewater the spot where its sub-structure had to be raised. The construction of sub-structure was taken by him at the cost of Rs 52 lakh. But later he failed to carry the work on and left it.”
 “We later re-tendered the project work, but no contractor submitted his bid as the project involved some risk factor,” an R&B official said on the conditions of anonymity.
 He said the bridge would be now constructed by Jammu & Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 3 Apr 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 3 Apr 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 4 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST