Srinagar, June 30: Despite assurances by the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah last year that an iron bridge would be constructed over river Sindh in Kangan, the funds allotted for the work have allegedly been diverted.
 Pertinently, the old wooden bridge, which connected more than thousand households of Tangchater and adjoining villages in Kangan Tehsil, was damaged due to flooding of Sindh last year.
 The villagers said the CM along with the then Minister for Roads and Buildings GM Saroori, had made an on-the-spot assessment of the damaged bridge and assured to construct an iron bridge there. They said a project report estimated at Rs 712 lakhs was prepared and sent for approval to the R&B department.
 The Chief Engineer R&B vide letter Tech/HD/9678-82 24/08/2010 to the Commissioner Secretary of the Department, had sought release of funds for the construction.
 “An amount of Rs 100 lakhs may also be released to enable assign the bridge to Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation,” the letter stated.
 Sources said an amount of Rs 15 lakhs had been released to the R&B Department for 90- meter motorable bridge at Tangchatri through Annual Plan 2010-11 Bridge Programme.
 However, the funds have been diverted for construction of a bridge at Akhal. “An amount of Rs 15 lakhs for Tangchatri Bridge released during 2010-11, which stands advanced to your organization be treated for construction of Akhal Bridge instead,” Executive Engineer R&B writes in a letter to Managing Director JKPCC.
 Meanwhile, massive resentment against the diversion of funds is brewing among the residents of over half dozen villages including Batpora, Tangpora, Lal Mohalla, Hajam Mohalla, Domkhah, Reshi Mohalla and Sheikh Mohalla of Kangan, which are connected through the wooden bridge.
 “A bridge is already constructed at Akhal. In absence of a bridge, we face immense hardships. It is ironical that some unknown elements have managed to get the funds for it diverted. We have been deprived of the bridge despite’s CM commitment”, said the president Samaj Sudhar Committee Shamas-ud-Din Shah.
 The residents appealed the CM to look into the matter and fulfill his assurance of constructing the bridge.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 30 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 30 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 1 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST