Arif Beigh
Kangan, June 28: The residents of Nillah Najwan area of Kangan continue to grapple with poor road conditions and a defunct drainage system, despite repeated promises made by the Roads and Buildings (R&B) department over a year ago.
Locals told Valley Online News that the assurances given by the department have proven to be hollow, with no work initiated till date.
According to residents, officials from the R&B department—including the then AEE and JE—had visited the area and promised that the road and drainage construction would begin “within a few days.” A tender, they claim, was also issued for the work last year. However, even after the passage of one full year, no development has taken place.
“We were told the work would begin any day—‘today or tomorrow’—but that day never came,” said a local elder. “Now a full year has passed, and we’re still waiting.”
Residents expressed serious concerns about the deteriorating condition of the road, especially as it leads to a nearby hospital. “We are forced to carry patients on our shoulders to reach the main road because vehicles refuse to enter this area due to the poor road condition,” lamented another local.
Adding to their frustration, locals said they have phone call recordings in which the then JE and AEE can be heard assuring that the road and drainage work would begin shortly. “We were shown dreams, but those dreams remain unfulfilled,” they added.
People are now placing their hopes on the newly appointed Executive Engineer (Exen), who recently took charge of the department. They urged the official to prioritize Najban Kangan and take immediate steps to repair the road and fix the drainage system, which has become a breeding ground for waterlogging and unhygienic conditions.
“We appeal to the new Exen to take this matter seriously. Our locality has been ignored for too long,” the residents told Valley Online News.
Despite being a residential area with essential public infrastructure nearby, Najban Kangan continues to suffer due to bureaucratic neglect and administrative delay. The community now awaits not just action, but accountability.