Minister for R&B, Gardens, Parks and Floriculture, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today ordered setting up of a full-fledged Enforcement Wing in the R&B Department to launch an immediate and sustained drive against road encroachers.The Minister said that the Enforcement Wing will start functioning immediately and launch a massive drive to remove all the illegal structures raised along the highways and roads. He said this is being done to facilitate smooth traffic movement as encroachments have become a major contributor to traffic congestion especially in Srinagar and other major towns on the State.The Minister also ordered that no work should be taken-up without inviting tenders and warned stern action against those found violating the instructions.“No road project should be taken up and framed without provisions of drainage system,” said the Minister, adding that concerned engineer will be penalized for negligence, if any, on this count.
The Minister was reviewing the status of road projects of Homshalibugh, Shangus and Pahalgam constituencies at an officers meeting here today.
Besides former legislators, Sofi Abdul Gaffar, Peerzada Mansoor Hussain, Rafi Ahmad Mir, the Commissioner Secretary R&B, Chief Engineer, R&B, and Chief Engineer PMGSY, Kashmir and other engineers of the department were present in the meeting.The Minister instructed the authorities of R&B department to launch a massive anti-encroachment drive across the State, particularly on Khannabal-Pahalgam road and dismantle all illegal structures. He asked them to sensitize people through print and electronic media about the hazards of encroachment. He said that no construction should be allowed on both the sides of expressways and directed chief engineer to keep close watch on such activities.
Syed Altaf Bukhari instructed chief engineer R&B to take action against those contractors leaving works incomplete for years together and debar them from executing further works besides cancelation of their licenses. “We cannot make people to suffer because of the negligence of the contractors,” said the Minister, adding that time has come to make everyone accountable in implementing the projects.The meeting was informed that Rs 1.00 crore have been released for completion of Club bridge at Pahalgam, which is lingering on for the past seven years.Earlier, the former legislators briefed the Minister about the road projects of their areas, need for widening, up-gradation and macadamization. The Minister in certain cases authorized chief engineer to take up the work while in some projects asked to frame DPRs under NABARD and CRF schemes.