Chitral
Mastuj: Sarghuz village gets jeepable suspension bridge constructed by SRPS
By: Gul Hamaad Farooqi
Chitral, November 3: Sarhad Rural Support Program (SRSP) completed another jeep able bridge at Sarghuz, connecting the area with Mastuj which is also alternative route of Mastuj and Gilgit.
Chief executive officer of SRSP Shahzada Mashoodul Mulk cut the ribbon of newly constructed bridge.
Addressing on the occasion district program manager Tariq Ahmad said that bridge was constructed with a cost of 6.5 million with 20% of community share of 0.64 million. He said that 120 feet long bridge was completed within a short period of 10 months to facilitate the local people.
Elders of the area said that Sarghuz bridge was damaged in 2009 due to a rockfall. They said that residents of the area requested Communication and works department time and again for construction of the bridge but they took no action. At last they approached SRSP and they accepted their request for re-construction of the bridge. Earlier that people of the area were faced to travel through a long route via Mastuj to Booni and Chitral but now they can reach their destination easily.
Some female representative of the local community demanded for construction of hydro power house and road of the valley.
Addressing on the occasion chief executive officer of SRSP Shahzada Masoodul Mulk stressed upon the local people to declare some principles for protection of this bridge. He assured that SRSP will construct a big power house for which they already trying of their best. He assured local people for rendering them maximum facilities as possible according to their policy.
Talking to this scribe some women folk of the area revealed that there is no school, college, hospital even a simple dispensary in Sarghuz area and they compelled to go Mastuj or Booni which take a long time. Some sick women when they are being shifting to hospital during their delivery expire before reaching hospital due to dilapidated condition of the road they added. Local people demanded from the government for construction of school, college, hospital and black top road in this area.
A local contractor Jandoola Khan Ayuni told this scribe that if this bridge constructing by communication and works department they must show its estimate more than more than 15 million but SRSP completed it only with a cost of 6.4 million.