A road between Chotipora and Nowgam connecting around 40 villages in Handwara area of Kupwara district has remained incomplete for 12 years, residents of the area say.
They staged a protest demonstration at Hanga village againstBeacon authorities for slow pace of work as villagers in the area facehardships due to the dilapidated condition of the road.
“The road lies in a dilapidated condition since decades dueto which we face many difficulties. We appealed to the concerned authoritiesmany times to repair the road but they don’t pay any heed to our sufferings,”said Zubair Ahmad, a resident of Hanga.
The road which connects more than 40 villages of the areawas awarded for construction to Beacon in 2007.
Locals allege that last year a patch was macadamised butwithin a year the road is back to the same condition with potholes dotting itslength.
“It clearly exposes the low cost material used duringmacadamisation of this road,” said Manzoor Ahmad of Manzpora village.
“With no proper drainage system along the road walkingbecomes more difficult, mostly during this rainy season.”
The patch between Batagund and Shagmaar is yet to bemacadamised owing to a dispute between the locals and revenue department overthe compensation for land.
“The authorities are not taking it seriously to resolve theissue which has put us in more suffering,” Rashid Ahmad of Marathgam said.
The protesting residents made a fervent appeal to the Governorof J&K to personally look into the matter and help resolve their problems.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Handwara, Gulzar Ahmad saidheavy snowfall last winter damaged the road.
“The work which is halted at some places is because of thelack of funds, once funds will be disbursed the work will start again,” Ahmadsaid.