Jammu KashmirNon-local skilled workers reluctant to return Kashmir

Non-local skilled workers reluctant to return Kashmir

Date:

NL Correspondent

SRINAGAR: As the developmental works have been halted, the non-skilled labourers are reluctant to return the Valley in view of prevailing situation.

Hundreds of non-locals including skilled workers working on various developmental projects have left the Valley due to ongoing unrest. Even though, there is improvement in the situation but the outside officials and skilled labourers are reluctant to return to the Valley to resume work on developmental projects.

“Under the present circumstances, it is not possible to re-start work in the Valley. When ministers, MLAs and bureaucrats are reluctant to move freely than how is it possible to work in ,” said a group of skilled labourers who have been working on Jehaingir Chowk-Rambagh flyover in Srinagar.

Work on some vital projects including Jahangir Chowk-Rambagh flyover, construction of surface water drainage system in Athwajan, water pipeline Doodhganga, water drainage system Rawalpora and other projects have been stopped. All these major projects which are handled by Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) and financed by Asian Development Bank (ADB) have missed deadlines while the skilled and semi-skilled labourers mostly non-locals have abandoned the construction sites.

Sources said the roads and buildings department had set up a target for completion of over 50 bridges by March 2017 which are likely to miss the deadline due to the prevailing situation as no work is being done under the present circumstances.

An official of roads and buildings department said some projects only require skilled labourers who are mostly non-locals. “When they left the Valley how is it possible to restart the work on various developmental projects,” the official said.

Roads and buildings development department minister Abdul Rehman Veeri said the government had asked the non-local officials and labourers (engineers and skilled workers) to resume their work but they had refused so far.

“We want outside engineers and other skilled labourers to return back but they seem reluctant to come here.  The developmental works have been hit for the last three months.. The work on major construction projects is not possible unless these people return to the Valley,” Veeri said.

He said most of the works of PMGSY, CRF, ERA are being done by non-local skilled labourers.

“Around Rs 700 crores of the 1400 crores reserved for developmental works in Kashmir this year have remained unutilized so far,” an official said. He said the Kashmir has a limited working season so there are least chances of utilizing the rest of the funds in this fiscal year.

Government has announced Rs 1400 crore developmental plan for Kashmir region and Rs 1500 for for the fiscal year 2016-2017.

Northlines
Northlines
The Northlines is an independent source on the Web for news, facts and figures relating to Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and its neighbourhood.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Share post:

Popular

More like this
Related

Samsung launches Galaxy A55 5G, Galaxy A35 in India

Jammu Tawi: Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, today...

IAI launches AeroSpace Services India in New Delhi

Jammu Tawi: Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), a world-class aerospace...

Arvind Kejriwal’s ED Custody Extended Till April 1

New Delhi, Mar 28: A court here on Thursday...

Ex-Army Chief VK Singh Sabotaged Revocation Of AFSPA In J-K, Alleges Omar Abdullah

SOPORE (J&K), Mar 28: National Conference (NC) vice president...