Z-Morh tunnel: High intensity dynamites at construction site trigger cracks to houses in Shutkari village, allege locals

Raja Syed Rather

Ganderbal : The residents of Shutkari village here have expressed anguish over the ongoing construction of 6.5 kilometer-long Z-Morh tunnel, alleging that their houses have developed cracks due to the usage of high intensity dynamites by the executing agency.

Shutkari is a small village located near the construction site in between Gagangeer to world famous resort Sonamarg.

The Z-Morh tunnel is being operated by National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), which is a fully owned company of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India.

“The usage of high intensity dynamites by the executing agency has affected the life of locals here. The houses have not only developed cracks but the loud bangs of explosives have horrified the inhabitants,” the locals said.

Favoring the construction of the tunnel, the residents have sought proper execution of construction work by using dynamites of low intensity.

According to Mushtaq Ahmad, a local resident, the executing agency is using high density explosives to make their work easy, thus neglecting the inhabitants of the village. Some of the highly affected families are living in the temporary tin sheds in the area.

He said that due to an uncertain blast from inside the tunnel, their houses have suffered damage, as the buildings are not so much stronger. “We have built our houses according to the weather and surrounding conditions,” he said.

He said that the residents are moving from pillar to post, seeking compensation for the losses since 2017 but no one is paying heed to their pleas.

The residents appealed the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to look into the matter— (KNO)