SRINAGAR, Aug 30: MLA Bijbehara, Dr Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri, today alleged that attempts were being made to divert road macadamisation towards agricultural land at GB Khalil to benefit private interests, a day after PWD (R&B) engineers announced a field-duty boycott over the alleged assault of an Assistant Engineer by the MLA.
Veeri alleged that a "land mafia" had purchased Agricultural Land in the area through distress sales with its value expected to rise, if the road was macadamised along the proposed route.
He added that villagers and the Auqaf Committee had strongly opposed the proposed alignment and raised the issue before him. He subsequently convened a high-level review meeting attended by the Chief Engineer South, Superintending Engineer and Executive Engineers concerned.
Veeri said it was agreed at the meeting that the road would be developed according to the requirements of the people and along the route recommended by the villagers and the Auqaf Committee.
He alleged that when the work began, the Assistant Engineer and his staff started macadamisation towards the agricultural area despite the decision taken at the meeting.
The MLA said he intervened, stopped the work and directed the officials to carry out macadamisation along the route recommended by the villagers and the Auqaf Committee & also sought action against the concerned Assistant Engineer, saying attempts to divert attention from the allegations should not obscure the issue of the road alignment.
The MLA's response comes a day after eight PWD (R&B) Engineers of the Bijbehara Sub-Division submitted a representation to the Executive Engineer, PWD (R&B) Division Anantnag, alleging that the Assistant Engineer was assaulted by MLA while performing official duties.
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