Aqib Rasool
Ganderbal, Sept 3 (KNZ/TMJ): A video from Wakura village in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district has surfaced on social media, prompting residents to raise questions over the quantity and thickness of material being laid during ongoing blacktopping work on a road under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
Residents featured in the video allege that the prescribed quantity of material is not being laid on the road. They clarified that their concern is not primarily about the quality of the material, but whether the required quantity and thickness are being maintained as per the approved specifications.
The video also appears to show a confrontation at the work site. According to the person recording the video, the contractor allegedly attempted to take away his phone to prevent him from recording the ongoing road work. The allegation could not be independently verified.
When contacted, the concerned Junior Engineer (JE) rejected the allegations, stating that certain individuals were raising the issue due to vested interests.
According to the JE, some residents allegedly want blacktopping to be extended up to the gates or entrances of their houses and are circulating the video in support of that demand.
However, the department’s response does not directly address the specific concern raised by residents regarding the quantity and thickness of material being laid during the ongoing work.
Residents have now appealed to Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal to intervene in the matter and direct a proper technical inspection of the road. They have sought verification of the thickness and quantity of material being used against the approved PMGSY specifications and norms.
They also urged the authorities to ensure that the road work is executed strictly according to the approved design and technical standards, maintaining transparency and accountability in the implementation of the project.
The allegations made by residents, including the claim regarding the alleged attempt to stop the recording, could not be independently verified. The circulation of the video has, however, brought the Wakura PMGSY road project under public scrutiny and prompted calls for official verification of the work.
A technical inspection by the competent authorities would help establish whether the material quantity and road thickness conform to the prescribed specifications.(KNZ/TMJ)
