Residents fear collapse of Balol Bridge as pillar develops cracks

Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 20

One of the pillars of the Balol Bridge, linking Jammu with border township of RS Pura, has developed cracks with people fearing it could collapse, severing the surface link with hundreds of villages bordering Pakistan.

The bridge connects thousands of people with Jammu city, who daily commute to attend their offices, colleges and other day-to-day works, needs an immediate repair, but so far the Roads and Building (R&B) Department has failed to take any step to do so.

Further outraged at illegal extraction of sand from the Balol Nullah, residents have demanded immediate action against the people involved in illegal mining. Despite protests by local residents, extraction is going on, while the administration is totally silent on the issue.

“We fear that the pillar may collapse anytime, but despite repeated pleas to the administration to repair or construct a new bridge, no heed is being paid to our demand. Who will be responsible if some mishap takes place,” said Kartar Singh, a resident of Satwari, who daily travels to Jammu.

Residents allege that sand mafia was also responsible for the damage to the bridge as it extracted sand from the rivulet. “We have been quite concerned about the sand mafia operating in the area. No government official dares to visit the site. The bridge needs immediate repair, otherwise we will be forced to launch an agitation,” said Kamal Kishore, a farmer.

In the Jammu province, out of 3,517 roads having length of 9,851 km, 2,553 roads have been damaged due to heavy rain and flash floods.

However, a source in the Roads and Building (R&B) Department said, “We know the problem but we don’t have enough funds. Whenever the funds will be available a study will be undertaken and problem solved,” he said.