| Locals lift dharna, work resumes on Asia's longest rly tunnel | | |  Danish Muzafar
Early Times Report
Banihal, Dec 23: After locals lifted dharna from the construction site, the work on Asia's longest railway tunnel on the Katra-Banihal line at Hingni near here, which remained suspended for seven days, resumed today.
Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, also imposed section 144 of CrPC in and around the project premises for the smooth conduct of work.
The villagers of Seran, Shagan, Kundan and surrounding areas, who had staged a dharna in front of the portal of the 13-km-long railway tunnel at Hingni a week ago, were demanding jobs in the project.
They said though they were locals, IRCON and AFCON construction companies were not providing them jobs in their ongoing projects.
They alleged that AFCON had engaged outsiders in the T49 railway tunnel being constructed by it at Hingni Khari, ignoring locals who had given their lands for the railway project.
Banihal MLA Vakar Rasool has also extended his support to the protesting villagers. On the DC's initiative, a meeting was also held today between the villagers led by Rasool and the management of construction companies. The DC assured that in future, preference would be given to locals.
In order to run the work smoothly, the DC, Ramban, later imposed section 144 of CrPC in and around the project premises vide order No 6192-97/omr of December 22, 2015. This order shall remains in force for two months.
After the meeting ended, the villagers dispersed peacefully. |
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