The Kashmir Pulse

PULWAMA — The residents of Pulwama district have demanded immediate repair of the vital Tahab bridge on the busiest Pulwama-Sangam road.

The residents of the area told the news agency KNO that the bridge at Tahab was damaged about two months ago but repair work is yet to be taken up.

According to locals, vehicles are passing from one side of the culvert while the other has been damaged, causing a traffic jam.

He said that the road connects SIDCO Lassipora with Pulwama town which witnesses frequent movement of heavy vehicles but in absence of a full bridge, people suffer.

Ab Majeed, a local resident, said that hundreds of villages are affected due to the damaged bridge as people now have been taking long routes to reach their destinations.

Locals said that they brought the issue into the notice of higher ups several times but they were given only verbal assurances. They urged the higher ups to look into the matter at the earliest so that they can heave a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, an R&B Department official said that work on the culvert is expected to resume soon.

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BANDIPORA — Roads and Buildings Department Sumbal in northern Kashmir’s Bandipora district has invited tenders to axe scores of walnut and mulberry trees to pave the way for the construction of two public parks—a move that has anguished the locals.

Office of the Executive Engineer R&B, Division Sumbal recently invited tenders from approved contractors for the cutting down of trees. The trees are located on the land of under-construction public parks in Hilalabad Nesbal and Markundal areas.

Locals have expressed concern, asking the administration to re-look at their decision to cut down scores of walnut and mulberry trees.

As per locals, there are over 70 walnut trees at Hilalabad Nesbal and it won’t be productive to cut them down. They appealed to the LG Manoj Sinha and Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo to look into the matter.

Attempts to contact District Magistrate Bandipora didn’t materialize, however, SDM Sumbal told the news agency KNT that the step has been taken in the larger public interest.

Executive Engineer Mushtaq Ahmed in response to a question said that tenders have been invited on the directions of Deputy Commission Bandipora. “Trees will be axed for the construction of public parks,” he added.

This post first appeared on The Kashmir Pulse