Danishwar Hameed
Kulgam, December 21: A newly macadamized road in Kulgam district, south Kashmir, was damaged on Saturday when the Jal Shakti department excavated it to lay a water pipeline.
Locals reported that the Kutbal road in Gudder had recently been asphalted, providing much-needed infrastructure to the area. However, without the required approvals, the Jal Shakti department began digging up the road to install the water pipeline, leading to significant damage.
The Assistant Executive Engineer of PMGSY in D.H. Pora, Kulgam, confirmed that the work was carried out without proper authorization. “We have instructed them not to carry out any work without the necessary permits,” he emphasized.
The engineer further explained that the excavation was done during the night using a JCB machine, which also lacked the necessary permission. A formal notice will be issued to the contractor, and a site visit will be conducted to assess the situation and decide on the next steps.
Local residents have expressed their frustration over the incident, stating that the new road, which had been a long-awaited development for the village, was now damaged due to lack of coordination between departments. “It’s very unfortunate that one government department, without taking proper permission from another, laid a pipeline, causing damage to the newly macadamized road. Instead of following proper procedures, they illegally damaged the infrastructure meant for the betterment of the community,” said a local resident.
