Govt refutes news on road connectivity to Ramban’s Ahadwah village

Ramban, June 5: The government on Monday strongly refuted a news report published in a daily local newspaper regarding the delay in road connectivity to the remote Ahadwah Panchayat, in Ramban district.
Describing the contents of the news report as misleading, a government spokesperson in a statement said that attempts are being made to connect Ahadwah panchayat through two national schemes, one under PMGSY and another under NABARD. “While directions have been given to complete the last mile coverage of 4.93 km up to Ahadwah via Marog-Balihote under PMGSY, the survey of Phase II under NABARD is currently underway to provide alternate connectivity through Neera and Batiya panchayats,” he added.
Contesting the claim made by the news report that the said PMGSY road was sanctioned in 2003-04, the spokesperson informed that Phase I of the said road was sanctioned in 2005-06 while Phase II was sanctioned in 2017-18.
He said that out of a total length of 24.33 km, the road up to 19.40 km has already been constructed which also stands blacktopped up to 15 km and the remaining portion has been prioritized for completion in this fiscal year.
Handing out an assurance on behalf of the government to connect all unconnected villages, the spokesperson said that more than 1000 souls will be benefitted once the 12 km NABARD road to Ahadwah gets completed, adding that the project amounting to Rs 2.49 crore sanctioned in Phase I shall be completed shortly.
Highlighting the challenges in the execution of work to connect Ahadwah village, which is at a very steep gradient, the government spokesperson urged the people to cooperate in the completion of the survey for Phase II of the project under NABARD. He said PRIs have been requested to facilitate the execution of road project by holding special Gram Sabhas.
The spokesperson reiterated that Phase I of the road to Ahadwah under NABARD from Neerah, after its take-off point from Mehar, was washed away in a landslide. He emphasised that under the NABARD scheme, no land compensation is provided for private land which comes in the alignment of the road.
He also handed out an assurance in expediting infrastructure development works once the road connectivity to Ahadwah panchayat is provided, saying this will facilitate the transportation of material and equipment to this hilltop panchayat.