Minister for R&B, Syed Altaf Ahmed Bukhari today informed the House that Angrala to Gulabgarh road involving a length of 17.50 kms has been taken up under PMGSY at a cost of Rs 1267.02 lacs against which Rs 800.28 lacs has been spent. The earth work has been completed. However, the road got badly damaged due to heavy rainfall and floods of September 2014. At many stretches landslides occurred and edges of the road got washed away. Shadole nallah diversion too was damaged. The road was restored in November 2014 and remained open till ending February 2015.
The Minister was replying to a Calling Attention Notice by Mr. Mumtaz Ahmad Khan. He said the road got again damaged due to snowfall and heavy rainfall and occurrence of landslides at many places in March 2015. Subsequently, restoration works were undertaken and the road again restored on 25-05-2015 by way of back cutting in washed away portions, removal of slips and by construction of PCC B/wall near graveyard. The road remained open till 22-06-2015.
The Minister further said in the month of June 2015, an overhanging portion of the road about 100 mtrs in length was completely damaged in 7th Km due to heavy slides which was also restored on 10-09-2015 by way of back cutting as there was no other alternative. It is pertinent to mention that the height of rock involved in the back cutting was approx. 40-50 mtrs in 100 mtr length. The road remained open till 24-09-2015 and is closed as on date beyond Km 7th i.e in Gala portion where again the slips /landslides have occurred.
He further said that the work of restoration is in progress and shall be completed within about fifteen days provided no fresh landslides occur. It is very important to mention here that few stretches of the road are slide prone and get closed even with the slightest of rainfall. The protection work in the scope of DPR/allotment are inadequate to tackle the recurring problem as the height of rock involved is huge and even the strata is fractured. The department feels the necessity for protection of the sliding zones of the area through Soil Conservation Deptt.
The Minister informed the House that the work on Lar Bridge in Km 9th of Angralla-Gulabgarh road with a span of 37 mtrs sanctioned under Phase-VIII has been allotted at a cost of Rs 116.83 lacs on 10-02-2015. The design was vetted in the month of June 2015. The work could not be started due to continuous slides on the road and damage caused to 100 mtr stretch of road in Km 7th. The work shall be started shortly. The bridge is likely to be completed by March 2016. The work on Bridge on Shadole nallah in Km 5th with a span of 35 mtrs sanctioned under PMGSY Phase-VIII at an estimated cost of Rs 102.39 lacs is at tendering stage.