SIALKOT, Sept 27: Re-construction of a small bridge over the Tavi river has not started even four months after it collapsed owing to flood.

Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi had ordered re-construction of the bridge immediately after the damage was done.

The bridge near Salehpur-Bajwat village had collapsed during the high flood in the Tavi, which cut off Bajwat area’s 85 villages along the Sialkot working boundary from the rest of the district.

People have launched several protests urging the irrigation and highway departments to start work on the bridge, but all their efforts have proved futile.

It is pertinent to mention that the area falls in the electoral constituencies of National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Ameer Husain and Punjab Industries Minister Muhammad Ajmal Cheema.

When contacted, the irrigation department officials said they were unable to undertake the project because of mounting influence of the local ruling PML politicians.