SIALKOT-Local people protested against the decades-old official negligence of the irrigation and highways departments to rehabilitate the Upper Chenab canals' bridges.
The people living in dozens of villages along the two main Upper Chenab Canal (UCC) and Marala-Ravi-Link (M R Link) Canal near Head Marala said that these narrow bridges meant for the pedestrians were shabby and in a shambles. They are the only means of communication for the thousands of the people from dozens of villages. They have to travel about 25 to 30km to reach the urban areas of Sialkot city after passing through these narrow bridges even with their cattle.
The protesting people belonging to the Head Marala villages of Rawal Kukar, Peer Sabz, Ichchraan, Muhaal Raanjhan, Kotli Raanjhan, Dariya Bidar, Dholo Chehaan, Chak Harrar, Foujdaar Garh, Buhaadarpur, Baqarpur, Raan, Chakraala and other said that they had repeatedly brought the dangerous condition of the bridges to the authorities but no one felt the need of the repairing or reconstructing these bridges. The local people have to pass through these bridges.
According to the local officials of the Irrigation Department, the Upper Chenab Canal (UCC) was established before the partition of the Indo-Pak Sub Continent. The Marala-Ravi-Link (M R Link) Canal was made in 1956. Since then, the small and big bridges have not yet been repaired or reconstructed.
Both the irrigation and highways departments are holding each other responsible for the repairing of these ancient bridges meant for connecting the local rural areas with the urban areas. Both the canals originated from the River Chenab near Head Marala.
The ironed fencing on these bridges was often found damaged and broken which add to the miseries of the local people.
Expressing grave concern over the miserable condition of the bridges, local people have urged Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Commissioner Gujranwala Division Capt (r) Muhammad Asif and Sialkot Deputy Commissioner Dr Farrukh Naveed to ensure early repairing or reconstruction of these bridges.