Rain washes away 2.5km’s long PMGYS road worth 5.52cr

Natural calamity exposed contractor-official nexus

Rain showers washed away 2.5km’s long PMGYS road worth 5.52cr

Saahil Suhail

Anantnag, April 15: Even though the watch dogs failed to expose the unholy nexus between officials and influential contractors in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, however natural calamity has relieved the Serchan Phalgam residents who have smelled the rat during the construction of road in the area under centrally sponsored scheme (PMGYS) Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana that stands washed away.

Constructed in 2011 at the cost of 5.52cr, the two and half kilometers long Serchan-Hukhard road was washed away by rain showers resulting immense difficulties for the residents.

Locals told Early Times that influential contractor, Muzaffer Ahmad Rather resident of Rahoo Anantnag, known for his political and bureaucratic connections had used sub-standard material which now resulted damage and road got washed away that too due to rain showers.

“We raised the issue with concerned officials at that time regarding the sub-standard material and violations of the norms but they didn’t heed to our grievances.” Said a local resident Irshad Ahmad, adding officials were having nexus with the influential contractor who now wants to loot state exchequer by delaying the restoration work.

Another resident Tanveer Ahmad from village serchan alleged that road was not constructed according to norms. “According to PMGYS norms contractor has prioritize drainage system especially for the roads constructed in the hilly areas but due to absence of proper drainage system road got damaged due to rainfall.”

He said that on papers roads has been shown 2.5kms’s long but on the ground road is only 2kilometers long. Similarly they said that according road project papers contractor was bound to construct cemented pavements on both side of the road in the areas where people residence but till time this part of the project is yet to be executed.

Tanveer said that on ground width of the road is less than the width shown on papers, which indicates that contractor with the help of PMGYS officials have looted the state exchanger. “Now after this damage to road contractor is delaying the restoration work while as officials acting as mute spectators.” He added.

Executive Engineer, PMGYS Sheikh Maqbool when contacted refuted the allegations and said, “Road sustained damage due to land sliding as the area slide prone.”

He said that contractor has started restoration work and walling of the road and slide prone site.

On sub-standard material he said, “whole projected was monitored by National quality monitoring cell through hi-tech gadgets and if road sustained damage due to natural calamity contractor has to maintain it up to five years under DLP norms.” Maqbool added.