Mendhar residents rue poor roads, drainage system
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Mendhar (Poonch), April 10
Notwithstanding the tall claims of the state government to provide basic infrastructure in the backward areas, the roads and drainage system in this frontier township are in a bad shape.

“We don’t remember last time when these roads were repaired. You see for yourself the condition of the roads. These roads are even worse than the village roads in rest of the country. It’s quite a nightmarish experience to travel in the town in a vehicle due to the dilapidated condition of the roads,” locals complained.

“Due to the poor drainage system, water enters into the houses and shops of the people during the rainy season, resulting in huge losses”, said Sanjeev Bali, who runs a shop in the main town.

“On several occasions, we brought the matter to the notice of the tehsil administration and the Roads and the Buildings Department but they simply start blaming each other,” he added. Locals further said the areas where water enters the houses and shops include the Muhalla Sarafa, Muhalla Bali and the main market area.

Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), Mendhar, TK Bhat said, “The tehsil administration has nothing to do with the upkeep of the roads in the town. It is the Roads and Buildings Department that looks after the maintenance and construction of the roads”.