In Uruzgan, Chinartu residents building bridge on self-help basis

TIRINKOT (Pajhwok):  Residents of Chinartu district in central Uruzgan province have begun construction work on a 23-meter long bridge over the Tirinkot River on self-help basis.

The bridge that will connect two villages namely Masoud and Agha Jan is being constructed by using iron wire mesh, wood and stones.

An elder of Agha Jan village, Haji Sardar Mohammad, told Pajhwok Afghan News  the bridge’s construction was newly launched and daily around 100 residents of both villages took part in its construction voluntarily.

He said the bridge would be three meters above the river water, 23 meters long and two meters wide. He said iron wire mesh, stones and wood were being used in its construction.

He said the villagers provided stones and wood from their fields and money was being collected for buying the iron wire and other necessary equipment from 2,000 families living on both sides of the river according to their economic status.

The elder said the bridge would be completed in next two months if rains and floods in spring did not interrupt the construction work.

He said besides people of the two villages, residents of Tirinkot, Chora and Gizab districts would be able to travel to Chinartu district using the bridge.

Saadullah, a resident of Masoud village, told Pajhwok residents of the village could not cross the river due to the lack of a bridge.

He said about 2,000 families lived in Masoud and Agha Jan villages on both sides of the river, but they were unable to visit each other during the time of grief and happiness.

He complained local residents had time and again asked the government to construct the bridge, but in vain and eventually they were forced to construct the bridge on their own expenses.

Provincial officials also confirmed local residents had launched construction of a bridge on the Tirinkot River to connect Agha Jan and Masoud villages.

Uruzgan deputy governor Maulvi Hikmatullah Muzammil told Pajhwok that the provincial government had distributed 6,545 kilograms of wheat among the working villagers.

He said the provincial government had asked relevant department to help the Chinartu residents in the construction of the bridge.

Five months ago, residents of Gizab district started constructing the road leading to Tirinkot at their own expenses, but they were unable to complete it due to lack of resources.

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