Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, APR, 30
JKPCC Working President and Congress contesting candidate from Jammu-Reasi Parliamentary seat Raman Bhalla today reached out to Kaushal Kumar’s family and joined locals protesting against the authorities and contractors for lingering the long pending project of the bridge wherein a young boy named Kaushal Kumar s/o Late Bhagat Ram hailing from Gadigarh was drowned while crossing a Naala that flows through the area alongside the building of the office of SDM Jammu South and whose dead body recovered today evening. He demanded suitable compensation to the family of deceased as govt’s negligence was responsible for his casualty.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla said that it is unfortunate on part of PM Modi who claims doing wonders in J&K in his every election speech and further claiming to make nation developed by 2047 sadly has badly failed to take care of basic amenities in J&K. He said that despite organizing series of protests to repair or construct two vital bridges in Lower Gadigarh area which washed away in floods in 2020, nothing was done in this regard notwithstanding locals facing huge inconvenience due to cut off of area for the movement of locals connecting thousands of villagers with adjoining areas.
Bhalla said poles were placed for locals and even for visitors of the SDM office to cross the Nallah on temporary basis but no progress was made for a long time since the soil was dug out for laying the foundations of the pillars. Despite protests by local leaders and residents, the neglect remained and before Kaushal Kumar, two girls also fell but were saved timely. It was raining yesterday and Kaushal couldn’t be saved because of the dark and fast flowing water. The police authorities have not recovered the dead body as yet.
Bhalla along with JKPCC General Secretary, Amrit Bali lashed out at the administration for the negligence of connectivity and safety for years despite the building being an important institution for the entire Tehsil of Jammu South. He also reminded the SDM of the other hospital building he initiated during his rule which has not been used even now. He directed the authorities for immediate action over the bridge construction and also asked to recover the body as soon as possibly otherwise strict actions will be taken after restoration of their government for delay and neglect that took the life of Kaushal Kumar.
Bhalla said that LG Administration and Union Govt are so callous that despite local villagers from the Gadigarh area took to the streets in protest demanding swift action from the district administration demanding construction of two bridges that were washed away during a flood four years ago. He said despite numerous assurances from the government and departments concerned, nothing concrete has been done . The construction of the bridge, intended to connect various areas and improve transportation infrastructure, has been a long-standing demand of the local community.
Bhalla said that the Congress party is very much concerned about the prevailing situation and the safety of the people. He assured the people that he will leave no stone unturned in extending all sort of help to affected people of these areas. He emphasized that there is need for taking immediate measures for the safety of the people of these areas and demanded immediate construction of embankments and dredging of the Nallahs passing through these localities on war footing to ensure free flow of water. He said the Government and the concerned agencies must be geared up for undertaking these measures.
