New bridge of Sarghuz also opened

CHITRAL, Nov 3: A new bridge  connecting Sarghuz village with Mastuj in upper Chitral was opened on Monday. The bridge was constructed at a cost of Rs.6.5 million 20% of which was contributed by the local community (Rs.0.64 million) and the rest came from the SRSP. The 120 feet long bridge was completed within a short period of 10 months. Local people at a function held to open the bridge said that the Sarghuz bridge was damaged in 2009 when a rock fell  and destroyed it. The wreckage of the bridge remained at the site for three months but the C&W department did not bother to collect it till they were washed away. They said that residents of the area requested the communication and works department time and again for the reconstruction of the bridge but to no avail. At last, they approached the SRSP which accepted their request to reconstruct the bridge. Some women of the area also demanded the construction of a hydropower house and road in the valley. They said that Sarghuz was still deprived of electricity and its road was in a dilapidated condition. Shahzada Masoodul Mulk, the CEO of the SRSP, asked the local people to adopt some principles and terms for the protection of the bridge. He assured them that the SRSP will construct a big powerhouse in the area. Talking to this scribe, women of the area said there was no school, college, hospital or even a dispensary in Sarghuz area and they were compelled to go to Mastuj or Booni for petty work. Contractor Jandoola Khan Ayuni told this scribe that if the bridge was constructed by the communication and works department, its officials would have showed its estimate over Rs. 15 million but the SRSP completed it at a cost of only Rs.6.4 million.–Gul Hamaad Farooqi]]>