Manglawar’s only link road in need of repairs

The three-kilometre road connects more than 10 villages to the rest of Swat valley.

SWAT:

The poor condition of the only link road traversing the village of Manglawar, which connects more than 10 villages to the rest of Swat valley, has severely inconvenienced people.

The three-kilometre road is now little better than a dirt track with stones jutting all along it. Since the state was merged with the federation, it has been ignored by the authorities.

“The condition of the road has made our lives miserable. In summers, there is a storm of dust and in rainy weather, the road is muddy and the potholes fill with water. I have never seen the road being repaired since childhood,” Hamza Khan, a student from the village told The Express Tribune.

The poor condition of the road has affected our studies as we cannot reach our school in time. Manglawar is located some eight kilometres from Mingora.

Mukhtiar, a teacher by profession and resident of Manglawar village said that in rainy weather they cannot use the road for fear of getting splashed. “Passing vehicles splash pedestrians with sludge.”

It is difficult for vehicles to make the ascent. “When it rains, we have to hire a tractor to pull vehicles over the slope. Accidents are frequent and there have been causalities,” said Sultanat Khan, a villager.

People want to know how the annual funds are spent since elected bodies have promised countless times to repair the road. “We have heard only promises. Our MNA and MPA said funds had been approved but we don’t know where the money has gone,” said Sher Bacha another resident.

The road connects more than 10 villages with an estimated population of 50,000. “Four valleys and numerous villages are situated on both sides of the road. Thousands of residents are directly affected by the condition of the road,” Ihsanullah, a government servant from the village, told The Express Tribune.

MPA Sher Shah Khan when contacted said that the complaints of the residents were legitimate and said he had ordered repairs.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2012.