Shopian residents demand opening of Pehlipora-Zampathri bridge
Shopian: The residents of Keller hamlet in south Kashmir’s Shopian have demanded opening of Pehlipora-Zampathri bridge that has been completed after many years of construction activity.
The residents of the area said that work on the bridge was started around four years back but it was left midway, however, it has been completed now.
They said that bridge will connect Zampathri with Pehlipora and rest of the villages.
Shabir Ahmad, a local resident said that their land is lying on the other side of rivulet and student are studying in schools that are lying on the other side but in absence of connectivity people of both the villages have been suffering immensely.
He said that whenever there is low water level in the rivulet they cross through it but when the water level increases, they have to walk several kilometres to get to the other side.
Ali Mohammad, another local resident, said that they are facing lot of problems in the absence of connectivity, especially in case of emergency.
He said that even locals have been taking part in elections and other government programs however, the area was let down on development front.
He said that after repeated requests the government approved a bridge for the area.
“The base for the bridge on both banks of rivulet were constructed four years back but after that no work was done for a long time due to paucity of funds but it has been completed now,” locals said.
They said that they have knocked the doors of every government authority to get their issue redressed and finally the bridge has been completed.
They said that until and unless the sides of the bridges won’t be filled, it is of no use.
“We have high hopes on LG Manoj Sinha and DC Shopian that they will look into it and direct the concerned authorities to look into it,” the locals said.
They once again requested authorities to look into the matter and fill the sides at an earliest so that locals can heave a sigh of relief.
An official said that due to paucity of funds, work on the bridge was earlier stopped and it was completed recently.
He said that side work will be taken up soon so that locals won’t suffer anymore.
