September 05
All the roads connecting to the main South Kashmir town, Islamabad (Anantnag) township were dug almost two months ago, the residents were informed that a drainage system is being constructed and shall be repaired within weeks’ time.
The work was taken up by the Urban Environment Engineering Department under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation with an estimated cost of 17 crore INR.
It has been more than a two months now, the roads are awaiting the mercy of God, as no worker is seen doing any repairing work on the roads, other than a few on the pavements (footpaths) using luxurious tiles for the pavements, which many feel is unnecessary.
The residents of the main town in Islamabad (Anantnag) have held continuous demonstrations after which they have been promised the roads will soon be repaired. Even today, on Wednesday, the residents of Main town’s Mattan chowk, Kadipora have shut their shops down as it affects the business of the whole town.
Several important roads-including Lal Chowk, Court Road, Janglat Mandi, Shirpora, Mattan Adda, Ganjiwar, , Kadipora, Sarnal, Achabal Adda, Iqbal Market and KP road,were dug up during the execution of the project.
“Why is the Government our enemy? What have we done? Why are they issuing lakhs for the construction of pavements when our main roads are crying for mercy?” Mohammed Shafi Misger, a local shopkeeper speaking to The Kashmiriyat asked.
The delayed repairing of the roads has let the people suffer and make traffic ever more chaotic in the town, by delaying the restoration work of the roads.
The dug up roads were earth filled and left like that with main-holes and potholes popping across the length of these roads.
Remember these roads are the only connectivity to the District Hospital and District Maternity hospital where patients from all the four districts of South Kashmir are referred.
The Roads and Buildings department despite repeated requests by general public have taken no initiatives so far despite the fact that the UEED has already paid the compensation for digging up of the roads.
The people of the town say that they have held protests and taken the issue to the concerned authorities time and again but nothing has changed for them, since April this year.
The Kashmiriyat also appraised the issue with authorities including the District Development commissioner several times, who assured that the roads will soon be repaired, however the DDC despite several calls did not receive calls.
District Trade Association, General Secretary Haji Sajad Hakeem while speaking to The Kashmiriyat said, “we have approached the authorities several times, they have promised swift action on the repairing work, however nothing has been done.”
Sajad who was on a peaceful sit-in at Mattan chowk against ruining the business in Islamabad (Anantnag) township said that the authorities had promised him early in the morning that officials from Local administration will meet him at the site of the protest. “Nobody has come here as of yet, it is been more than two hours that we are waiting,” Sajad said.
He said that the people of the town have held protests and taken the issue to the concerned authorities time and again but nothing has changed for them, since April this year.