Jahangeer Ganaie
Shopian, Aug 28: Even in the 21st century, the residents of Badimarg village in Imamsahib Tehsil of south Kashmir’s Shopian are without proper road connectivity.
Locals said that the tall claims of development are proving hoax on ground as since the last 70 years the government has even failed to construct a small bridge and a patch of 2 km of road.
The residents said that since the last two decades they are moving from pillar to post to get the approval for the road connectivity but to no avail.
“The construction of the bridge would have connected the village with other districts. Currently, we are cut off from the district as well as from the Tehsil headquarter,” said Ishfaq Ahmad a local resident.
Ishfaq said that to reach Shopian or Imamsahib, they had to take a detour through Kulgam district.
“If this bridge is constructed it will shorten the distance, providing much relief to the residents of around one dozen villages,” said Sajad Ahmad another local resident.
He said that people of the area, particularly elders, children and patients are facing a lot of inconvenience in absence of road connectivity.
“We have repeatedly knocked on the doors of Chief Engineer R&B, District Magistrate, Executive Engineer but their assurances have also proved a hoax on ground,” Sajad said.
“We once again request higher ups to look into the matter and provide proper connectivity to the area so that they can heave a sigh of relief,” locals said.
Meanwhile Assistant Executive Engineer R&B Zainapora Nisar Ahmad said that they have twice forwarded the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for both road as well as for the bridge to higher ups but it hasn’t been approved yet.
“Recently we have again forwarded the DPR to higher ups and hopefully it will be approved soon,” Nisar said.
