SUMBAL, OCT 5: The ongoing construction of the Shilvat-Wangipora Ring Road has triggered mounting public concern in Sumbal, with residents, traders and daily commuters alleging that uncontrolled dust from earthwork and heavy vehicle movement has turned the busy corridor along the Srinagar-Leh Highway into a major source of inconvenience and health-related concern.
The affected stretch, according to locals, has witnessed persistent dust emissions as construction activity continues amid regular movement of heavy machinery and vehicles. Residents living along the road said thick clouds of dust are repeatedly thrown into the air, particularly when vehicles pass over unpaved or freshly worked sections, leaving nearby homes, shops and roadside areas covered in dust.
The impact, they said, is being felt most acutely by families and businesses located close to the construction corridor. Shopkeepers alleged that dust is entering their establishments throughout the day, settling on goods and surfaces and making it difficult to maintain normal business operations. Residents said their houses, vehicles and other belongings are similarly being affected.
Inadequate water sprinkling has emerged as the central grievance. Locals alleged that water is being sprinkled only once a day, which they believe is insufficient to control dust generated by continuous construction and traffic movement. They demanded that water tankers be deployed repeatedly during working hours, particularly at locations witnessing intensive earthwork and heavy vehicle movement.
Commuters have also raised concerns over road safety. Two-wheeler riders are particularly vulnerable, residents said, as sudden clouds of dust can reduce visibility and make travelling along the construction stretch difficult. The combination of construction activity, heavy traffic and airborne dust has prompted calls for stronger on-site traffic and safety management.
Residents have also expressed concern over the prolonged exposure of people living and working near the project to construction dust. They said mitigation measures should be treated as an essential component of the project rather than as an occasional exercise, particularly in populated stretches where construction activity is taking place close to residential and commercial establishments.
The locals maintained that they are not opposed to the Ring Road project and recognise its importance for improving connectivity. However, they said infrastructure development should not come at the cost of basic public convenience and safety. They demanded that the executing agency adopt a comprehensive dust-control mechanism covering regular water sprinkling, proper management of excavated material, controlled movement of construction vehicles and timely clearance of loose soil from the carriageway.
The residents have called upon the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to immediately inspect the affected stretch and issue firm directions to the agency executing the work. They also urged NHAI officials to monitor compliance on the ground rather than relying solely on assurances from the contractor.
The Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, has also been urged to take immediate cognisance of the complaints, conduct an inspection of the affected areas and coordinate with the highway authorities and executing agency to ensure that effective dust-suppression and public-safety measures are implemented.
Residents warned that if the situation continues without corrective action, they may intensify their agitation and take to the streets. They said repeated appeals without visible improvement would leave affected communities with little option but to seek public intervention.
The issue has brought renewed focus on the need to balance major road infrastructure works with strict construction-site management, environmental safeguards and protection of communities living along project corridors. Locals said timely intervention by the concerned authorities could prevent the dust problem from escalating into a larger public-health and road-safety issue.
