Villagers protest against IIM Jammu for blocking Tanda Simble Lehar link road

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: The people in Jagti area protested against authorities of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu on Sunday against proposed construction of a boundary wall at proposed site of the institute, which is likely to block Tanda-Simble-Lehar link road, which further connects Tanda and Saya villages.
The protesters, while raising slogans against IIM authorities, warned that any such move will not be tolerated at any cost and demanded that the Government must provide alternate fly-over or construct the road on similar pattern as existing in BSF Ploura, Jammu where the general public is allowed to move through the road, which passes within the BSF campus.
Presently, IIM Jammu operates from Old University Campus, Canal Road, Jammu and the proposed 200 acres of state-of-the-art campus is coming up at Jagti, which is 14 kilometers from Jammu City.
Talking to media persons, the villagers informed that the alternate road proposed by IIM authorities is more than four kilometers in length as compared to the existing road, which is only 300 meters and connects Tanda and Saya villages.
“The construction of wall will disconnect villagers from their properties. Moreover, the children and women would be the worst sufferers as they have to move on daily-basis as per their requirements,” the woman Sarpanch said, adding that the establishment of IIM is a good move of Government but disconnecting link road would adversely affect the livelihood of villagers.
While highlighting the issue, social activist Dian Singh said, “The Lieutenant Governor must intervene as the road existed for last many years and proposed alternate route would affect the adjoining villages in fulfilling their daily needs.”
The Government must find an alternate solution so that people may not feel harassed and cheated, he added.