AJAY SHARMA
Jammu Tawi, March 30: In an alleged violation of the core principles of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), authorities have been accused of deliberately modifying the road alignment in Sunderbani Tehsil of Rajouri, effectively bypassing a segment of the local population.
According to sources, the road alignment has been selectively altered for reasons best known to the officials concerned.
Sources revealed that the PMGSY department had conducted a survey for the construction of a road from Makol to Sudeen Masjid, where an existing earthwork tractor road is already in place. However, the final alignment has allegedly been influenced by former Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) members, favoring certain sections while neglecting others.
It has been alleged that despite the willingness of around 20 to 25 households to provide their land for the road, their settlement (ST Basti) has been deliberately bypassed.
Sources argued that the road should be constructed in a manner that serves the broader public interest rather than benefiting select individuals. They claimed that the current alignment caters to a limited group while ignoring a significant population that depends on proper road connectivity for education, healthcare, and daily commuting.
Concerned residents have appealed to the Lieutenant Governor’s administration to ensure equitable development. They highlighted that a recent meeting, attended by locals and some former PRI members, brought to light grievances over the alleged biased decision-making process.
It was pointed out that the survey conducted 15-20 days ago lacked public involvement, as it primarily included select former PRI members rather than the general populace. Additionally, sources alleged that the jurisdiction of the PMGSY department in District Reasi was overlooked, and the alignment was directed toward areas already connected by PWD roads.
The affected residents have urged Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rajouri, Abhishek Sharma, to intervene and address their concerns. They demanded accountability from the Additional Works Inspector (AWI) of PMGSY and called for the road to be realigned to include all affected communities, particularly the ST Basti.
The local community emphasized that school-going children and residents urgently require this connectivity. Social activists and former panchayat members have also appealed to the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir to take immediate action, stressing that infrastructure projects should be inclusive and benefit the maximum number of people, ensuring the fair implementation of government policies.
