Shopkeepers block road in Gurdaspur for 3 hours

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, August 24

Shopkeepers blocked the Mandi-bus stand road, considered lifeline of the city, for nearly three hours on Wednesday protesting over its dilapidated condition.

A 3-km stretch of the road has become a bone of contention between the residents and the PWD authorities. For the last four months the road has been lying in a dilapidated condition with PWD officials claiming that “they are helpless as they cannot spray tar due to the rainy season.”

Anu Gandotra, a leader of the Gurdaspur Beopar Mandal who spearheaded today’s agitation, said, “It is utter negligence on the part of the PWD. The rainy season is just a lame excuse being extended by officials as there are several other methods available to ensure that the road is sprayed with tar.”

Nearly 400 shopkeepers signed a memorandum claiming that many of them had become ill after inhaling dust particles.  Civil hospital doctors too have reported an increase in Silicosis, which is a form of lung disease caused by excessive inhaling of dust.

The road is used by private and government buses to reach the bus stand.  

Deputy Commissioner Pardeep Sabharwal admitted that the grievances were genuine and added that he instructed officials to look for a solution.

Sukhdev Singh, Executive Engineer, PWD, said, “There is little we can do as rains are acting as an impediment in starting repair work. Once the rainy season is over, we will start work,” he said.

However, shopkeepers claim that the road was in a bad condition even before the monsoon had arrived. “We brought it to the notice of the PWD before the rains. Officials are just pulling wool over our eyes. There should be a proper inquiry into the role of the PWD,” shopkeeper Dinesh Kohli said.

Residents have given an ultimatum till August 28 to get the road repaired. “If things remain static all commercial establishments will be shut down on August 29,” Gandotra said.