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| For decades, GREF authorities fail to construct crucial bridge | | |  Early Times Report
Rajouri, Apr 27: In 1950-51, Engineer Regiment of Indian Army had constructed a border road from Ghambir to Tarkundi (situated on the Line of Control, LoC) after the liberation of Rajouri and Poonch in 1947-48 from the clutches of treacherous and murderous intruders from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) backed by Pakistan Army.
The road, according to Mohd Qayoom, sarpanch of Panchgrain, was later handed over to General Engineer Reserve Force (GREF) in 1961-62 for maintenance and further expansion.
In the first kilometer of this road it passes through Sukhto river and till today the GREF had failed to construct an important bridge at this spot.
As the road passes through Sukhto river it should have a about 50 meters long bridge at Ghambir as flash floods restrict movement on this road whenever there were torrential rains.
Being a important link for carrying weapons of high caliber & other defence related material as well as army personnel manning the LoC, Engineer regiment had constructed a causeway in 1981.
The causeway was washed away in 2008 flash floods and since then GREF havs failed to make any alternative arrangements and the inhabitants of more than 12 villages have been left on the mercy of God.
Even the soldiers are forced to cross the river on feet after carrying necessary material on their heads/shoulders.
More than 2000 people including girl students, office goers, patients and people for their daily needs cross the river on feet daily to and fro.
Pertinently in the first week of April 2 girl students namely Parveen and Shamim r/o Dallha Panjgrain while on their way to high school were washed away while crossing the river and were rescued by the people .
Two army jawans each from Rajput Regiment and RR unit were also rescued by the civilians from flash floods.
Inhabitants of Tarkundi, Naka Panjgrain, Truta Dhara, Darari Tryala, Khankari, Tunditrar and many more villages situated near Line of Control, in Ghambir Sector, facing many difficulties in the absence of this bridge.
"Many times the matter was raised before the senior officers of Army, GREF, PWD (R&B) and civil administration but despite promises nothing has been done in the construction of this important bridge" said Mohd Qayoom.
He added,GREF has also installed a mixing plant in the area, many revered shrines situated in the area are being visited by the devotees daily,80% population belong to Schedul Tribe (ST) category and many students including girls daily crossing the river to attend classes at Higher secondary schools.
"The road is very important as for as defence of the country is concerned and it meet with another ridge road (along LoC from Veer Bahdreshwar (PB) to Bhimbergali (BG)) at Tarkundi .In the absence of bridge during heavy rains army using BG or PB routes to reach Tarkundi and other important points" said Mohd Qayoom , sarpanch.
Abdul Hussain , sarpanch Naika Panjgrain also expressed his concern over the casual approach by the GREF authorities in the construction of strategically important bridge.
He added PWD (R&B) department has constructed two roads in their area namely Khankari-Ghambir road and from Chamba to Parhali. But these roads are still non-functional as these roads have no connectivity with Jammu-Poonch highway at Ghambir in the absence of this bridge.
As the GREF has failed to construct the bridge, PWD (R&B) department under the mounting pressure from the inhabitants of the area, has proposed a 56 meter long Span Steel Motor able Bridge at Ghambir.
"A proposal for the construction of bridge at Ghambir costing Rs 367,65 lakhs has already been sent to higher authorities for approval. We are waiting for government response and it was hoped that soon e-tenders will be called for the construction of this bridge" said Abdul Majid Wani, Executive Engineer, PWD(R&B). |
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