Kupwara, Aug 5: Member of Parliament Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan on Wednesday said that the long-pending Lower Rajwar Raw Water Main project, which is set to be commissioned after nearly a decade, was originally approved during his tenure as MLA Handwara in 2012 and accused MLA Handwara Sajad Lone of failing to complete the scheme despite remaining in office for years.
In a statement, Ramzan said the project was sanctioned in 2012 to address the long-standing drinking water crisis in Lower Rajwar. However, after the 2014 Assembly elections, when Sajad Lone was elected as MLA Handwara, the scheme remained in limbo.
“I waited until the sitting MLA came into power for the second time in 2024, hoping that along with this project he would also complete the other unfinished works. After waiting for two years and seeing no progress, I took the initiative to ensure the completion of the projects which I had initiated but the sitting MLA failed to complete,” Ramzan said.
He said that after repeated representations from the residents of Lower Rajwar regarding the pending scheme, he personally took up the matter with the concerned Minister.
“Following my intervention, Superintending Engineer Shakeel-ul-Rehman and Executive Engineer Aijaz Ahmad were directed to expedite the work, while the required funds were also allocated to ensure completion of the project,” he said.
Ramzan claimed that the present Executive Engineer was purposefully posted to Handwara to ensure the completion of the Lower Rajwar Water Supply Project.
He said the scheme was initially scheduled to be inaugurated by Jal Shakti Minister Javid Ahmad Rana, but the Superintending Engineer and Executive Engineer sought an additional two months to complete the remaining work before commissioning.
Ramzan further alleged that Sajad Lone had inaugurated the scheme in the Mawer area nearly four months ago despite the project being far from completion.
“The scheme was not even ten per cent complete at that time. I fail to understand the logic behind inaugurating an incomplete project,” he said.
Ramzan said the successful testing of the project marked a significant milestone and expressed hope that its commissioning would ensure a reliable drinking water supply to nearly 25,000 residents across 13 villages, including Dudipora, Bakiakher, Baderher, Budkot, Machipora, Khirman, Nabedzab, Nagranar, Baderkali, Bahadarpora, Goriakher, Wadipora and Lachipora.
Launching a sharp attack on Sajad Lone, Ramzan alleged that several important developmental projects in Handwara had remained incomplete due to his failure to pursue them.
“If he could not even ensure the macadamization of the New Bus Stand Handwara, I was compelled to bring Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary to Handwara, following which more than ₹2 crore was sanctioned for the macadamization work,” he said.
He further alleged that the inaction of certain officials in the Jal Shakti Division Handwara and Ramhall had caused immense hardship to people across the Handwara constituency.
“People have suffered because of the inaction of some officials in the Jal Shakti divisions of Handwara and Ramhall. Those responsible will be held accountable,” Ramzan said.
He said the People’s Conference should stop taking credit for projects completed through his efforts and instead acknowledge its failure to effectively represent the people of Handwara.
Ramzan also expressed gratitude to Superintending Engineer Shakeel-ul-Rehman, Executive Engineer Aijaz Ahmad and contractor Iqbal Ahmad Tantary & others for their coordinated efforts in completing the long-pending project. He said their commitment and dedication had ensured that the scheme had finally reached the commissioning stage.
Appealing to the people, Ramzan urged the public to assess why several developmental projects remained incomplete for years and hold those responsible accountable.
