3 years on, work on Sar-i-Pul road yet to begin

SAR-I-PUL CITY (Pajhwok): The construction of a 14-kilometre road in Sar-i-Pul City -- part of three development projects is yet to get under way..

Mohammad Noor Rahmani, the Provincial Council head, told Pajhwok Afghan News the road was to be buily in the first and second police districts and Chah Bagh village.

He blamed the Municipality, Public Works Department, public resistance to the bulldozing of properties coming in the way of the road for the delay in building the road.

Abdul Ghafoor, a resident of Sar-i-Pul City, expressed concern over the government’s failure to enforce the project. He demanded work on the vital plan be launched immediately.

He accused the government of committing negligence in implementation of the project saying Sar-i-Pul City had not been developed to the level of some districts in other provinces.

Public Works Director Eng. Hashmatullah said implementation of the project was responsibility of the Municipality. The Public Works Department had discharged its responsibility by completing the survey and design, he claimed.

But Mayor Abdul Wali Danish, who was recently assigned to the task, insisted the project could not be implemented due to the low capacity of the municipal administration.

Danish, who recently took over as mayor, promised he would strive to include funds for the project in next years’ uplift budget. Work on the road would begin, he hoped.

Pajhwok tried to speak to the previous mayor on why the project was not executed but he could not be reached for comments.

Urban Affairs Director Eng. Ali Reza Shefaee said around 100 shops and homes should be razed for the implementation of the project.

He accused the Public Works Ministry of having failed to properly design the project and deal with the problems created by locals.

He called the project important and said the entire landscape of Sar-i-Pul City would be changed with its implementation.

Individuals whose properties, shops and homes hamper the execution of the project offer different views.

Dr. Kamran, whose house comes in the way of the project, said he was ready for his home being demolished for the sake of the raod scheme.

But Rahim, another resident of the locality, said he would not allow his house to be destroyed because the government would not compensate him.

mh/mud