Jammu, 15 May (H.S.): Residents of village Kewal, Seari, Chaprola, Phagoli and adjoining areas held a protest today in Budhal area against the non-completion of Tran- Kewal-Phagoli Road and pending works under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Panchayat, Kewal Lower.
The protest was led by former Sarpanch Kewal Lower, Farooq Inqlabi, who while talking to media persons said that the construction work of the road from Trun to Phagoli was started in the year 2004 and even after more than two decades the road has still not been made properly motorable, causing immense hardships to thousands of residents, particularly students, patients and elderly persons.
He further stated that the entire area from the starting point up to Phagoli falls under the jurisdiction of District Rajouri. However, the earth work from around kilometre 2 onwards, was executed by PWD Reasi, and now neither the Rajouri Administration nor the Reasi Administration is taking responsibility for completion of this vital road project.
Protesters also alleged that the people of the area have been suffering for years due to non-completion of the road and failure of the JJM scheme and warned that if the issues were not resolved before the end of this month, the people will launch a stronger agitation in the coming days.
As the protesters marched towards Rajouri, DySP Budhal Neeraj Badyal along with police team and concerned officers reached the spot at Trun and stopped the protesters. Following this, the agitating residents blocked the Budhal-Rajouri road for several hours demanding immediate redressal of their long-pending issues.
Later, Naib Tehsildar also reached there and listened to the grievances raised by the protesters. The officials assured the public that all their genuine demands and grievances would be taken up with the concerned authorities. During the interaction, AEE PHE Ashfaq Ahmed also assured the protesters that drinking water supply to Trun, Beji and Jori areas would be restored within two days. The protest was then suspended.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar
