Imran Naikoo
Srinagar 29 June (KNB): 5 Crore rupees DPR made by government under CRF Scheme around three years ago for the upgradation, demarcation besides other miscellaneous work of Baramulla’s Sheeri-Laridoora road, the final boundary formation of the road remains to be done, despite of releasing rupees 98 lakhs already, as per source.
The source said that Sheeri-Laridoora road was to be widened beyond 24 fe+et for which the 5 cr funds were given in which 98 lakhs are released till date. “The said amount is to be spent on eliminating structures, shifting of utilities like water pipes and others but nothing of such kind is happening till now,” said the source.
It is feared that the given fund could be lapsed if the concerned authorities did not wake up at the proper time, the source said. “Besides of using the given funds on structures, utilities and others, the compensation from the funds can be given to those whose lands may get affected while widening and other works of the road,” said Ghaffar (name changed), “the sanctioned fund has kept land compensation as its one of the components on which a big portion of amount could be spent, given that the money is from government, because residents’ portion of land can get merged with the road during the process.”
However, to avoid any problem, the Executive Engineer R&B Division Baramulla apprises district Tehsildar on 13-2-21 about the intended work on the Sheeri-Laridoora to be taken regarding which he is advised to depute revenue officials on the site for demarcation.
“Before starting any work where the land is abutting on the existing road, the revenue officials are obliged to visit the area and make sure if anyone’s land would not get merged with the government’s or vice versa,” Ghaffar siad.
Pertinently, Chief Engineer R&B Kashmir had also recently given direction to the concerned engineers of the area for expediting work on the sheeri-Laridoora road.
On contacting Executive Engineer R&B division Baramulla Taufeeq Ahmad Shah, he said that the demarcation papers are under process and work is going on those parts where no issues of encroachment or other have cropped up.
“When the demarcation papers are ready for the other parts with completion of compensation, work would be started on those remaining parts as well,” Ahmad said in reply to the question.
While talking to Naib Tehsildar Baramulla regarding the demarcation, he said “It could not be done because the concerned department should have marked the road from where their required alignment goes, which would have helped us to measure how much land of owners falls in the road,” he said, adding, “When we did not know the actual required width of the road, which the concerned department (R&B) needs, how could we have demarcated it.”
When asked about Exen R&B’s statement that the demarcation process is underway, Naib Tehsildar replied that it is going in another area of the same district, not on Sheeri-Laridoora road.
On contacting Superintendent Engineer, R&B Baramulla, Javaid Iqbal Bukhari regarding the issue, he said, “Sometime back communication has gone to Revenue department regarding the demarcation, which might had been misplaced, now we have asked our executive engineer to take the matter afresh with the Revenue department so that a proper demarcation could be done, helping us to know the actual width of the road or how much additional land we need and from where.”
Bukhari further said that in a week or so, the ambiguity on the ground would be removed and assured that the matter is being followed. (KNB)