Despite HC order, Nurpur roads in bad shape

Our Correspondent

NURPUR, NOVEMBER 30

The Public Works Department (PWD) is yet to start repair of the 12-km Khushinagar- Minjgrah link road. This, despite the High Court’s direction to the state government to maintain and repair all roads in the lower Kangra area, comprising Nurpur and Jawali sub-divisions.

A lot of resentment prevails among residents of Ganhi-Lagor, Kherian and Minjgrah gram panchayats over the poor upkeep of this important link road connecting around 12,000 people of a large number of villages of these panchayats.

This link road had been built under the Prime Minister Gramin Sarak Yojna over one and a half decade ago but the PWD did not maintain it, resulting in its deterioration.

Instead of filling the potholes with bitumen, the PWD recently filled these with mud, which has now become a nuisance for commuters. Owing to the pollution due to dry mud, life of people having houses by the roadside has become miserable.

The local Mahimahesh Yuvak Mandal has submitted a memorandum to the PWD authorities for proper maintenance of this road.

In this connection, Salli Ram, pradhan, Kherian gram panchayat, lamented that he had submitted several resolutions to the higher authorities of the PWD during the past four years, but in vain. He said a 1-km stretch connecting Jadh village in his panchayat had turned into a virtual khud.

Kuldeep Sharma, leader of Gaddi community from Chinva in Ganhi Lagor panchayat, said he, on behalf of the residents of the village, had recently sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister about the deplorable condition of the road from Lagor to Kulhan.

Meanwhile, Inder Jeet Uttam, XEN, Nurpur PWD division, said the department would soon repair the road.