Srinagar, Aug 30: A few days after Governor NN Vohra directed Divisional Commissioner Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon to find “a viable solution  to problem” arising out of skewed bridge construction across Jhelum, District Development Commissioner, Srinagar Baseer Ahmed Khan Thursday called management and parents of children studying at Presentation Convent Higher Secondary School Raj Bagh to his office reiterating that the bridge work would continue.
The parent community, however, strongly resisted the plan saying that “in a democratic setup we have every right to stop the government from doing something which hampers the interests of people.”

PARENTS CONCERNED
Even though officials present at the meeting said the bridge would be constructed, the parents said “then there was no fun of calling the meeting.”
“We were told that government wants to negotiate on the project but as you said the project will take off then what is the fun of calling this meeting,” senior journalist Masood Hussain, a parent responded to the officials.
“Officials take interests of public into consideration but this is for the first time that they are working in the interest of administration,” Hussain said adding “If this project is made a public participatory project, it will add stars to you(officials).”
Masood and other parents who spoke on the occasion, however, clarified that they didn’t pitch their views out of their professional assignments but “simply being concerned parents”.
“We’re worried not only towards the safety of our own children but equally towards future generations. This bridge will bring the commercial hub close to residential area, which was known for tranquillity and presumably this was why Maharajas had invited the Presentation Sisters here. Now this all is being ruined in the name of so called development,” said Shafqat Jahan a parent.
She said: “In a democratic setup people have every right to raise voice against any misadventures.” “So we will fight this issue tooth-and-nail.” She and other parents feared that the safety of Presentation Sisters could also be at risk if the bridge is constructed as the area would turn into a “commercial mess”.  Others who spoke on the occasion included businessman Sheikh Imran, Khalid Ahmed and a professor.

THE RESOLVE
The parents unanimously resolved that: “We won’t let Presentation Sisters or the school management be taken for a ride. This school is for we people and so we will plead this issue in every forum.”

OFFICIALS SPEAK
While officials are understood to have resolved that another meeting would be held, there was no such confirmation from the government side.
An official handout said a meeting was “convened under chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar Baseer Ahmed Khan with parents of students from Presentation Convent Higher Secondary School, Rajbagh to consider their objections to construction of proposed bridge between Rajbagh and Residency Road.”
The meeting was attended by Chief Engineer R&B Kashmir, Mushtaq Ahmed, Chief Town Planner Iftikhar Hakeem, Joint Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation Farzana Naqshbandi, Executive Engineer R&B, TK Razdan, Principal Pt Convent School, Sr Jyoti, Vice Principal, Sr Reggi, OSD with Div Com Kashmir Aamir Ali, Assistant Commissioner Central with Div Com Dr Mir Tassaduq Hussain and parents of students studying in Pt Convent School, the handout added.
“A PowerPoint presentation was made by Chief Engineer R&B for the convenience of parents and management of the school and the proposals were discussed in detail,” it added.
“The parents expressed their views about the proposal. Deputy Commissioner Srinagar assured that all genuine suggestions would be considered, in the design parameters of the proposed bridge.”

THE ‘CONTROVERSIAL PLAN’
The National Conference led government is constructing the bridge across Jhelum –feared to be disastrous for Kashmir’s sole heritage walkway The Bund while the missionary school on the other side is also likely to be badly affected.
Sometime back Governor NN Vohra had directed the Divisional Commissioner to “find a viable solution to the problem”. Till now, however, solution is awaited.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 30 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 30 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 31 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST