Hampered development: Cut-off, people demand rebuilding of bridge
Bridge was washed away during monsoon this year.
HARIPUR:
Residents of around six localities of Haripur have been experiencing transpiration problems since the only bridge connecting the areas with the rest of Haripur was washed away by monsoon rains this year. As they have been deprived of the only road link, they have demanded of the authorities to reconstruct the bridge on a priority.
The bridge was constructed in 2008 at a cost of Rs500,000 under a development project funded by the Soka Welfare Society. Residents of Muhalla Soka, Talokar village, Masoomabad, Roshanabad and New Abadi Railway station localities chipped in 25 per cent of the total cost of the project.
“The bridge was a safe route for us for around four years,” said Naveed a resident of Talokar village, “but now we have not option but to walk through the stinking water accumulated in the area to pass.”
While locals blame poor engineering and use of low-quality materials that led to the destruction of the bridge, Soka Welfare Society Chairman Malik Shakil Awan maintains it was washed away by the “unexpectedly fast” flow of water during the monsoon season. He insisted that the construction material and design of the bridge “was up to the mark.”
Awam said the welfare society has approached Member of Provincial Assembly Goher Nawaz Khan, who has promised to release funds for reconstruction of the bridge soon.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 11th, 2012.
Residents of around six localities of Haripur have been experiencing transpiration problems since the only bridge connecting the areas with the rest of Haripur was washed away by monsoon rains this year. As they have been deprived of the only road link, they have demanded of the authorities to reconstruct the bridge on a priority.
The bridge was constructed in 2008 at a cost of Rs500,000 under a development project funded by the Soka Welfare Society. Residents of Muhalla Soka, Talokar village, Masoomabad, Roshanabad and New Abadi Railway station localities chipped in 25 per cent of the total cost of the project.
“The bridge was a safe route for us for around four years,” said Naveed a resident of Talokar village, “but now we have not option but to walk through the stinking water accumulated in the area to pass.”
While locals blame poor engineering and use of low-quality materials that led to the destruction of the bridge, Soka Welfare Society Chairman Malik Shakil Awan maintains it was washed away by the “unexpectedly fast” flow of water during the monsoon season. He insisted that the construction material and design of the bridge “was up to the mark.”
Awam said the welfare society has approached Member of Provincial Assembly Goher Nawaz Khan, who has promised to release funds for reconstruction of the bridge soon.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 11th, 2012.