Handwara’s Batgund residents protest, demand diversion over Nallah Mawer

Srinagar, March 02: Demanding diversion over Nallah Mawer, the residents of Batgund Mawer in north Kashmir’s Handwara held a silent protest on Thursday.
Speaking to Rising Kashmir, the inhabitants said the vital bridge got damaged two years ago and was closed for vehicular movement.
They said the diversion of cement pipes was put in place by the authorities; however, due to heavy water flow, the diversion got washed away, disconnecting twenty villages from its district headquarters.
“The patients and school-going children are suffering as they have to take long routes to reach the hospital and school. We have appealed to the authorities several times to set up some big cement pipes over the nallah so vehicles could pass over it. But instead of setting up big pipes, the department installed small pipes, which are getting washed away regularly, and from the last three weeks, more than twenty villages are disconnected.”
Another local, Mohamad Ashraf, said, ” Recently contractors dismantled the span of the bridge, due to which people risk their lives to cross over Nallah. A single mistake can lead to a big tragedy as people have no option other than risking their lives over Nallah.”
The protestors called off their silent protest after SHO Qalamabad reached them on the spot and assured them that the issue would be taken up with the higher officials for redress.
The people of this locality have urged the administration to set up some big cement pipes so the vehicles can cross the nallah, which will provide relief to thousands of the residents.