PMGSY Deptt faces staff, equipment shortage for snow clearance in Baramulla upper reaches

Uri, Dec 12: With the onset of the winter, the roads and mountains of the Uri and Boniyar areas of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district are clad in heavy snow. The upper reaches of Uri and Boniyar, home to a large population residing near the Line of Control, face recurrent road blockages and disconnection due to landslides and snow accumulation.

The burden of ensuring accessibility during these harsh months falls on the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) department, responsible for maintaining and clearing roads in these areas.

However, the department’s lack of manpower and machinery leaves local contractors as the primary responders to snow clearance, often leading to delays and prolonged road closures.

According to official data, the PMGSY oversees around 230 kilometres of road in Uri and Boniyar, with a significant portion traversing the upper reaches. Despite the critical nature of these routes, the department lacks its own snow-clearing machinery and adequate staff, forcing it to rely on local contractors.

Manzoor Ahmad, Executive Engineer of PMGSY Uri, said that 29 out of the 50 roads under the department’s jurisdiction are still under contractor maintenance due to their recent construction, while tenders have been issued for snow clearance on the remaining 21 roads. “We have divided these roads into six stages, and contracts have been awarded to six contractors for snow clearance,” he said.

However, contractors often face significant challenges, including landslides and insufficient equipment, which delay road clearance operations.

The delays in snow clearance leave thousands of residents in areas like Dudran, Banali, Nambla, Gohalan, Churanda, Dudran, Banali, Nambla, Mayan, Chotali, News, Silpathar, Maidanan, Zamroodpattan, Gohalan, Churanda, Barnate, and Batgra stranded for weeks. “Our problems remain the same every winter, with no permanent solution in sight,” said Farooq Ahmad of Gawalta.

Another resident, Manzoor Ahmad, of Nambla said, “The contractors do their work at their convenience, often citing the unavailability of equipment like JCB machines. This negligence forces us to endure prolonged hardships.”

The delay in the snow clearance of the upper reaches of Uri and Boniyar areas leads to extremely difficult times for the local residents here. They said the situation becomes more difficult for them when there is a health issue in some village.

They said, following the road blockage, the patients are carried on shoulders and after trekking several kilometres the patient reaches a health centre. “The entire time of shifting the patient to a nearby health facility centre is horrible and terrifying which we only know,” said Fayaz Ahmad, of Churanda.

The situation has prompted widespread calls for empowering the PMGSY department with its own snow-clearing machinery and sufficient manpower.

Dr Sajad Shafi, MLA Uri, acknowledged the persistent challenges and stressed the need for systemic reform.

“The PMGSY cannot continue to rely solely on contractors. It is imperative to equip the department with machinery and funds to ensure timely road clearance,” he said.