Villagers allege corruption and sub-standard construction in Nainital’s Jalal Gaon

Nainital: Residents of Jalal Gaon village in Bhimtal block of Nainital district are up in arms over what they describe as rushed and substandard road repair work, which they waited nearly 12 years to see begin. Villagers have alleged corruption and negligence in the project, claiming grass sprouting within just four days of construction."This road will not even last till elections and no one cares," village head Khushal Singh Bisht said, adding that the project includes drains and safety walls, but only trenches have been dug so far, with no protective structures. With the monsoon approaching, villagers fear the road will quickly deteriorate. Residents also complained of a lack of supervision, claiming that no Public Works Department (PWD) officials have visited the site since work began. "We were assured someone would come, but no one has shown up. There is no accountability," the village head added.Another resident, Vikram Singh Bisht, said, "We waited over a decade for this road, but what we are getting is nothing short of a joke. Grass is already growing through the freshly laid road and potholes are appearing even before work is complete. Beyond the first 5km from the main Mangoli road, the quality drops drastically."They added that standard procedures are being skipped, with bitumen poured directly over loose soil, and ‘no one is bothered to check.' "Workers are just sweeping the road with brooms. There's no compressor, no proper base layer—just tar poured over soil," said Narendra Singh, a villager.The issue adds to ongoing challenges in the village, including poor connectivity, wildlife threats and migration pressures. Locals warn that like nearly 1,400 ‘ghost villages' in the state, Jalal Gaon too could face mass migration. "We will hold protests if our concerns are not addressed on time," a villager said.PWD official Ratnesh Kumar Saxena said, "Of the 9km stretch, 5km is approved for 25mm SDBC and premix carpet was sanctioned for 4km. Hot mix work is not feasible due to limited approval. Defective sections will be re-laid, and drains and safety walls will be constructed, with completion targeted before the monsoon begins. The contractor has a two-year defect liability period and quality issues will be addressed."