Inhabitants of Rehmatabad Rafiabad from North Kashmir’s Baramulla district Saturday expressed resentment against R&B department for failing to provide them repaired and macadamized Rehmatabad-Watergam 3 kilometre long road even after a decade.
Several residents from Rehmatabad Rafiabad raised concern with Rising Kashmir and accused R&B for not showing seriousness in resolving their long pending issue, which is causing inconvenience to locals, pedestrians, commuters, and transporters from the area.
A local villager Akbar Ahmad told Rising Kashmir that the road connects the Rahmatabad to Watergam Rafiabad, and beside this road, no other alternative is available for them.
“The road plays a crucial role in connecting Rahmatabad village to Watergam,” he said, questioning why they have been neglected when all other roads in other villages have been macadamized and repaired under NABARD scheme.”
He added they asked National Bank for Agriculture And Rural Development (NABARD) officials about the same road who told them that the said 3 kms long road falls under the jurisdiction of Roads and Building department (R&B).
As per villagers the village falls under the jurisdiction of Watergam Municipal Committee since 2007.
As per them they have pleaded to the concerned officials many times, but to no avail.
“No one from the authorities seems interested in redressing our issue,” they said.
Another villager, Mohammad Shafi said that the dilapidated condition of the road worsens in winters adding to the hardship of the locals and the movement is halted on the road.
“It takes us an hour to cover the distance of just 3 kilometres to Watergam, which otherwise should have been covered by just within 15 minutes or less for treatment of patients,” he said.
He added that during rainfall the road becomes muddy causing inconvenince to the commuters.
Another resident Ali Mohammad said their children cannot go to school owing to muddy roads.
“How can small children be sent to school when the road is covered with mud and is water logged,” he questioned, and called it a complete failure on part of the concerned authorities.
Villagers from Rehmatabad Rafiabad, appealed to the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to look into the matter and redress the issue.
Talking to Rising Kashmir, Chief Engineer R&B Showkat Jeelani said DPR for an amount of 1.40 crore has been submitted to DDC for authorization.
“Work will be taken up after the same is received,” he said.