People protest against poor road construction from Katyara to Kansar

Dire need to check!

• The concern JE refuses to divulge the facts with an excuse that they are answerable only to enquiry agencies.

Kamal Charak

Doda, Dec 29: Dozens of people from the village Lower Haddal, Upper Haddal and Bharai gathered at Katyara to Kansar road via Haddal to protest against the poor construction of the sanctioned road under NABARD RIDF-XXIII (2017-18). The people alleged that a poor quality work is going on in road construction, which is a big loss to the public exchequer.
Addressing to the media persons locals said that it was after their long struggle this crucial road project costing approximate 300 lakhs was sanctioned from Katyara to Kansar via Haddal under NABARD RIDF-XXIII (2017-18) but we are very much depressed with the poor quality work in the construction of this road. They allege that there is no proper grading and uneven width of road is another serious concern. People alleged that initial work of few meters on this road was satisfactory but as work is heading ahead there are certain compromises with the road quality. They alleged that they have raised the concern with Junior Engineer and other senior officials but no one is paying heed to their grievances. With morass, they guessed that no new project would be sanctioned in coming many years, so we have only this road as transportation source and we want atleast this project should be constructed with quality work and the norms of DPR should be maintained.
People further alleged that ignorance of Junior Engineer and other officials regarding the poor quality work indicted that there is something fishy. They appealed to Deputy Commissioner Doda to ensure the quality work in the construction of the said road which will be beneficial for hundreds of households living along this crucial road project.
Jammu Jottings correspondent when tried to get the official version of Executive Engineer of PWD Doda in this regard and he agreed for the version but was obstructed by his JE, who is very junior to him. The JE arrogantly replied that they are answerable to inquiry agencies only and said that these people who allege poor quality are actually uneducated people who do not know anything about construction.
Now several questions arise after such an arrogant answer of Junior Engineer. Whether he is above his Xen? Isn’t this the public exchequer right to demand quality roads? Is there any role of graft? 300 Lakhs is a huge amount which should be efficiently spent so DC Doda who is known for his honesty should depute some higher ranked official to listen to the grievance of people and should order an enquiry of the road construction.
Those present in the protest are: Puran , Kishore Kumar, kalshna devi ward member, Satish Raj, sunish Kumar, Paras Ram and others.