Roads damaged due to rains still not repaired

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, October 14

In the absence of a budget and directions from the higher authorities, the Public Works Department (PWD) has not initiated any steps to repair state highways, link and internal roads in Palampur, Baijnath and Jaisinghpur divisions that were damaged during the monsoon.

Most of the roads linking adjoining districts such as Mandi and Hamiprur are full of potholes, often leading to fatal accidents. In rural areas, the situation is worse as despite repeated requests by local MLAs, the state government is yet to release funds for the repair and maintenance of rural roads.

The situation in Baijnath, Panchrukhi, Jaisinghpur, Lambagaon, Thural, Khera, Chadhiar and lower Sulaha areas is alarming. It has become very difficult to drive through these areas even during the day, as the roads have virtually become a death trap.

Information gathered by The Tribune reveals that no funds have been released for the repair and maintenance of roads damaged due to heavy rains in the past three months. The matter is already in the knowledge of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, who also holds the portfolio of PWD. The issue was also discussed at the higher level but no letter of credit had been issued to executive engineers so far.

The BJP government had promised the people of the state during the parliamentary elections that it would give the top priority to revamping link roads, state and national highways but in the past six months, the situation had worsened.