Srinagar, Feb 10: What started after visit of Chief Minister’s visit in 2009, the broad-beamed, high-intensity lights on Hyderpora bypass from Hyderpora Chowk to Tengopora Bridge, have finally stopped functioning for past nine months.
 The closure of the lights and the bad condition of the road has increased the chances of traffic accidents in the area, the residents say.
  “Last time they (officials) stated lighting would be started within days. But since then I think nearly a year has passed,” said Showkat Ahmad a resident of the Alnoor Colony.
  The residents said due to lack of lighting the road has become accident prone.
 “We fear to move out. What are the lights for if they are not used,” said Tanveer Ahmad, another residents.
 Abdul Aziz of adjoining Gulbahar colony said the drainage work on one side of the road has been completed some six months ago by the concerned department. However, the department has paid no attention towards repairing of the road.
 “It is four lane-road. However, it has been reduced to two lanes by ERA. At least, they should start work on one lane of the road on which drainage work has been completed,” said Aziz.
 The residents complain that the situation has been complicated by closure of floodlights.
  “We  do not recollect the day when they were functioning. We feel we are living in jungle,” they said. They said the government should come up with some plan to deal with the situation.
 “The construction of drainage should not mean we surrender our right to live. The roads are blocked , the floodlights are closed and the ERA is not worried,” said a resident.
  The residents said the government was keen to develop the area but the officials were not keen to carry forward the work.
 Residents say in 2009 summer, when Chief Minister, Omer Abdullah visited the area he had given clear instructions to the officials to speed up the work. The officials were given on spot instructions by the Chief Minister to complete the drainage in time, and repair the damaged road, the locals said.
 The officials however, as per the locals, have shown no urgency.
 “They are failing the government. They are not honoring the Chief Ministers directions,” the residents said.
 They said: “The poles have been erected, lights have been installed but they have not being started because the officials don’t look bothered.”
 The residents appealed the Divisional Commissioner Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon to personally visit the area to see for himself what problems the locals face.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 10 Feb 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:00:00 IST