People have been facing problems for six months
Jogindernagar. State Vice President and Zilla Parishad member of Himachal Kisan Sabha, taking strong cognizance of the indifferent attitude of the state government towards the construction of the bridge even after 6 months of the only Koon-Ka-Tar bridge connecting sub-division Paddhar and Jogindernagar Kotli being washed away in the rains.
Kushal Bhardwaj has warned of starting an agitation. He said that this bridge was like a lifeline connecting two tehsils. When this bridge was built, there was already a existing foot bridge in Kun-Ka-Tar before independence. People from the panchayats beyond Machhayyal used to come to Paddhar, Kotli and Mandi on foot from this bridge. After the construction of the new traffic bridge, various governments and MLAs of the state did not take any care of this historical bridge and for many years this bridge completely decayed.
There is no movement left on foot. The new traffic bridge was also washed away in the devastating floods during the rainy season this year and for the last 6 months, the people of Kotli and Tungal valley and many panchayats of Joginder Nagar are facing a lot of trouble. Hundreds of people used to cross the Beas river through this road, but now no vehicle movement is taking place across the Beas river. Kushal Bhardwaj said that after the collapse of the bridge, he himself had raised this issue with the government and had demanded that the necessary process for the construction of a new bridge should be started and at present, keeping in mind the convenience of the public, a bridge should be constructed here. Vehicular movement should be started by building a valley bridge.
He raised this issue prominently in the District Council meeting held in the month of August and also presented a proposal in this regard. He said that it is very regrettable that the state government is not concerned about the suffering of the people. Even the leaders of the ruling party who make big boasts are maintaining silence on this issue. He said that the general public is forced to face problems every day.
Kushal Bhardwaj demanded that the buses running from Mandi, Padhar via Jogindernagar via Kotli should be run as per the pre-determined time from both the ends of the river and the valley bridge should be prepared before January 31 and the traffic movement should be started. He said that he will raise this issue again in the upcoming meeting of the Zilla Parishad. Himachal Kisan Sabha has also made preparations for the movement on this issue and will once again start a big movement by organizing village-to-village meetings. It is expected that the government will soon take initiative to provide facilities to the public.
Six months is a long time, now the dam of patience has also broken and now agitation is the only way. Kushal Bhardwaj said that BJP MLAs from Mandi Sadar and Joginder Nagar have gone to the Legislative Assembly after winning and both of them are also observing a fast of silence on this issue. It is also regrettable that both the MLAs have turned their backs on this problem of the public.
