MLA Baramulla flags flaws in Bypass execution, warns of ecological damage
Baramulla, Oct 1: Member of Legislative Assembly from Baramulla constituency Javid Hassan Baig expressed concern over the "flawed' execution of the Baramulla-Khanpora bypass and the widening of the already existing Baramulla-Uri road.
In an exclusive conversation with Greater Kashmir, MLA Baramulla said that authorities have not learnt any lessons from the landslides reported at multiple spots on the Jammu-Srinagar highway.
"Wise people learn from the mistakes of other people, but those who are not wise continue making mistakes. We have seen the procedures adopted by the concerned authorities and the executing agencies for four lanes of the Jammu-Srinagar highway. The results are now in front fo us," he said.
Baig said that had the authorities had learnt any lessons, then the authorities would not have executed the project in such a way.
"I am telling you today, when this road (Baramulla-Khanpora bypass) goes ahead of Fatehpora, whether it is a train or this road, it will pass through sinking and sliding areas," he said.
MLA Baramulla said that areas falling after Dardpora, Poshba, Gutiyar and other higher reaches, the whole are sinking and sliding.
"The entire area near Gutiyar and above Ushkura will sink. The authorities have made such a massive investment in this area, but creating a huge infrastructure in an area that is sinking on its own will not be feasible," he said.
He said that the drainage system that will be built there, the accumulated water will enter the residential areas falling on the lower side of the bypass.
"The whole area used to be a jungle as per our geography, and building such an infrastructure in this way is not a wise decision. It will have its own geographical, environmental and ecological concerns," he said.
He said the surveyors are hired from outside who do not have any idea about the history of the areas and are not aware about the geography as well.
"Tenders are issued, surveyors visit here, and the job is done without any accountability," he said.
Javid Hassan Baig said that the Baramulla-Khanpora bypass and the road towards Uri side will meet the same fate as that of the Jammu-Srinagar highway.
"In future, they (government) will have the same kind of difficulties as those of the Jammu-Srinagar highway. You mark my words. Destroying these mountains, sensitive ecology is never wise. There are other ways of constructing roads," he said.
He expressed his concern over the widening of the Baramulla-Uri road ahead of Khanpora, saying that the executing agency is removing big stones from the mountains, making it weak.
"They should have taken the extension from riverside, the way it has been done in Jammu. It is not appropriate to touch such sensitive spots. These mountains are made up of stones, and instead of properly grinding the stones, they are breaking it. You can start breaking it, and later the mountains will obviously react," he said.
He said the survey of the Jammu-Srinagar highway was done long back when the technology had not reached the level it is today.
"At the time of execution of work on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, the authorities should have consulted world-renowned geologists, who know the mountains and have knowledge about the Himalayas," he said.
He said that taking technological assistance from the world-renowned geologists was a better option to build a four-lane highway.
"They cut roads, blasted mountains and took these roads out of some sensitive and fragile areas. It will not take as much effort to build these roads as it will take to retain and maintain them," he said.
