Tiles stolen, pedestrian pathway damaged overnight in Bandipora village, Officials promise inquiry
Bandipora, March 15, KNT: A tiled pedestrian pathway constructed near a shrine in Gundpora village of Arin block in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district was allegedly damaged overnight and its tiles stolen, triggering anger among locals who have demanded strict action against those responsible.
The pathway, around 100 feet long, had been laid near the Ziyarat Shareef of Subhan Sahib under a government development programme at a reported cost of about Rs 2.70 lakh.
The incident has sparked allegations among locals that the work was deliberately destroyed to make way for fresh funds to rebuild the same structure.
Villagers said the tiles were removed and taken away overnight, leaving the pathway damaged and unusable.
Officials in the Rural Development Department said an inquiry would be initiated to determine how the existing government work was damaged.
They said strict action would be taken if any misuse of public funds or official negligence was found during the investigation.
Meanwhile, Block Development Officer (BDO) Arin Abdul Majeed told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that preliminary information suggested that some locals themselves have damaged the pathway. He said that an inquiry will be ordered to nab the miscreants. [KNT]
