Raouf Dar
KULGAM, Jan 11: The clock tower which is located in the heart of Kulgam town has lost its sheen due to unplanned development executed by the authorities.
Power Development Department in Kulgam district has installed two electric substations around this Clock Tower without bothering for its significance as a main landmark in the district.
The one time famous clock tower now seems to be a part of an electric grid station. The district administration has apparently ignored this unplanned development has no explanation has been sought from the department sofar.
Not only the substations have finished the appearance of the clock tower but has now posed a serious risk to the lives and property of the public. “This Clock Tower was built in 2009 by Public Works Department in the heart of Kulgam town as a landmark and the Ajanta company had installed clocks on this tower. The Public works Department took one year to complete the construction of this tower,” the locals told Kashmir Despatch.
They added that the Clock Tower is now in a dilapidated condition and the clocks on it have stopped functioning long back. “The Government has failed to maintain the clocks on this tower as they are lying defunct most of the time.”
A senior citizen while talking to Kashmir Despatch said that the PDD by installing electric transformers around this two has not caused a loss to the state exchequer but has also put the lives of the people at risk by laying electricity transmission lines in the middle of the business hub.
When Kashmir Despatch contacted the Executive Officer of Municipal Committee Kulgam, he said, “Recently we held a meeting with DC Kulgam and officers of PDD about this matter. They have assured us that an alternative piece of land will be identified to shift these two substations as soon as possible.”