With the macadamisation season already been over in Kashmir, The authorities in Roads and Buildings department said that they could not start work on any macdamization project in valley since July.One of the top officials of the R&B department on condition of anonymity told KNS over phone that though the R&B minister several times directed us to start the work on roads for making maximum use of the left over macadamization season, but the fact is that from last three and half months of unrest, we could not start work on any project in valley. He said that 500-KM road length was supposed to black-topped in the current year, but the valley unrest has stuck all the plans. “In the month of May-June we covered 200-KM length, but then after it could not become possible for us to continue the macdamization process due to unrest in the valley,” the official said and added that even the contractors who have already been allotted road projects are not coming forward for the works.Chief engineer R&B Hamid Shiek when contacted by KNS also admitted that apart from few kilomers in the beginning of July no macdamization could be preceded further.
Sources said that the contractors were also reluctant to participate in the fresh tender process for construction of roads due to the unrest.The time period for macadamisation and blacktopping of roads in Kashmir is short as compared to other places.Sources said that despite the availability of huge budget of Rs 2800 Crores under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Construction of majority of the roads under this scheme was not started.“Uncertainty in valley and the lackadaisical approach of government has hit the plan.” said a senior PWD engineer and added that macadamisation season in Kashmir starts from June 15 to September 15.Sources in the government said that Government had formulated a comprehensive plan for better road connectivity across the State. “The Pre-Empowered Committee meeting held at New Delhi recently had already given go ahead to the road projects of the State sanctioned under PMGSY phase-X. But unfortunately the fact is that present situation of valley has badly affected the work,” one of the officials of the government said.It needs to be mention here that Public Works minister, Abdul Rehman Veeri had directed the officers to make maximum use of the left over macadamization season and start the road construction soon in Kashmir. “During the high level meeting last month the Minister had said that most of the working season is over and it is time to gear up men and machinery for the maximum utilization of leftover working season. The Minister was informed during the meeting that the macadamization process in Srinagar district will start soon and will gradually be started in other areas of Kashmir as well,” one of the officials of the R&B department said. (KNS)