Despite the budget, the Dharech-Khagna road is in a bad condition
The Dharech-Khagana-Kanwatipul road in the Kasupanti constituency has become potholed due to lack of proper maintenance. The road’s condition worsens during the rainy season. However, under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, an amount of ₹41.69 lakh has been approved annually for the maintenance of this approximately 9-kilometer-long road.
In a press statement issued by the local Panchayat head, Neeraj Thakur, Deputy Head, Lakshmi Singh, former Deputy Head, Divesh Kumar, Harichand Sharma, Om Prakash, Rakesh Kumar, Rajesh Kumar, Krishna Sharma, Kalavati, and several others, it was stated that deep potholes on the Dharech Khagna Kanwati Bridge road are causing difficulties for vehicle owners. The chambers of small vehicles are breaking. Residents allege that funds under the PGMSY scheme have been grossly misused for this road, which requires a high-level investigation. The potholes on this road have not been filled in the past four years, nor have stormwater drains been constructed. Residents claim that the contractor has not carried out any repairs to this road in the past four years, but rather, has engaged in gross misappropriation of government funds.
People say that a notice board installed by the Public Works Department in Garpaiya clearly states that an amount of ₹41.69 lakh was approved under the PGMSY scheme for the maintenance of the 9-kilometer road. This includes ₹7.11 lakh for 2022-23, ₹7.67 lakh for 2023-24, ₹8.29 lakh for 2024-25, ₹8.95 lakh for 2025-26, and ₹9.27 lakh for 2026-27. This includes annual road clearing, improving rain cuts, shoulder maintenance, filling potholes and cracks, maintaining roadside drains, road furniture, and painting culverts and parapets. According to the board installed on the road, under the PMGSY scheme, the work of maintenance of this road from 28 June 2022 to 27 June 2027 has been entrusted to a contractor named Man Singh.
The people of Satog Panchayat have demanded from the government that the amount sanctioned for the maintenance of Dharech Khagna Kanwati Bridge road should be thoroughly investigated and a strict inquiry should be conducted against the guilty contractor and officials.
Assistant Engineer, PWD Mashobra, Pankaj Sharma, stated that the contractor had carried out some repairs to this road about two years ago, for which payment had been made. After that, the contractor has not carried out any repairs, and a letter has been written to him regarding this.
