Pulwama, Oct 15: Panchayat building at Sonbanjar village of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district awaits construction for past 10 years.
Sonbanjar is a Gujjar habitation falling under Achgoza block of Pulwama.
A local resident of the village Bashir Ahmad Jahra told Rising Kashmir that work on the building started in 2012.
He said that 15 Marlas of land were acquired from him for construction of the building at Poswal Mohalla.
He said that the work was assigned to a contractor who constructed a plinth and finished column work but then left the work and the building is waiting for truss and roof topping since then.
The building has around 6 rooms and a bathroom.
However, due to rain, snow and other factors the brick walls have been affected.
“Some breaks near windows have been disarrayed,” Jahra said.
Jahra said that he was verbally assured compensation for the land.
“Neither I was compensated nor was the building completed,” he said.
Yar Mohammad, Sarpanch of the village, told that the Rural Development Department(RDD) was to provide the truss and other things but they didn’t provide any till date.
“I brought this issue into the notice of concerned authorities a number of times but to no avail,” he said.
After the under-construction building was left unattended by authorities, Jahra has shifted into it along with his family and cattle.
He has covered the roof with some wood logs and rusted aluminum sheets.
Block Development Officer Achgoza, Mohammed Touqeer, said that he has taken charge of the block recently and feigned ignorance with the issue.
However, it was learnt from his office employees that the project has been executed through SICOP.
“We have been writing to them from last five years for completing the truss work,” they said.
