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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Haryana govt puts Nagina-Tijara road project on hold, irks locals in Nuh
The Nagina-Tijara road project meant to connect the Sarheta village in Nuh to Rajasthan, has been suspended until December 31, 2026, an official from the Gurugram Public Works Department (PWD), said on Thursday. The road, once touted as a symbol of inter-state connectivity, now lies abandoned and the project has been put on hold triggering anger among locals. The Haryana government official, cited above, was responding to a public complaint filed in October 2023. Originally launched in March 2018, following its announcement by then chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar during a rally in Punhana in December 2015, the project was expected to connect Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The proposed 13-km-long road would have reduced the current 45-km detour between Nagina and Tijara, helping people to travel across these states. The official statement announcing the suspension has turned viral on social media platforms and has triggered anger among the locals living in Nagina, Punhana and Pinangwan, with multiple delegations now planning to meet CM Nayab Singh Saini and raise the issue. Convenor of the Mewat RTI Manch, Rajuddin Meo, who filed the original complaint on October 8, 2023, expressed his disappointment. 'This is not just any road—it was meant to honour the memory of Raja Hasan Khan Mewati. His statue was installed at Barkali Chowk in Nagina by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in March last year. A budget was allocated, but suspending such a significant project for two years raises serious questions about the government's intention,' he said. To be sure, the project has already faced numerous administrative and legal setbacks. It was awarded twice by the Haryana PWD to different companies. The first contractor, SKR Company, abandoned the work mid-way. A second firm was assigned the remaining stretch, but later approached the Punjab and Haryana high court in 2018, citing land and technical issues, leading to the construction being stalled. Although the matter was later withdrawn from the high court in 2019, work was not resumed. Beyond historical importance, the road holds religious significance for many in the region. Jain devotees from Mewat often struggle to reach the renowned Digambar Jain temple in Tijara, currently having to travel over 45 km via Ferozepur Jhirka. The Gram Panchayat of Notki and former Tijara MLA Ayub Khan have been advocating for this direct route. Earlier, in June 2011, then CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda had announced a four-lane road from Nagina to the Tijara border in the presence of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. A budget of ₹19.81 crore had also been earmarked with the promise being reiterated during the 2014 Haryana assembly polls. Now, with Sarheta's direct connection in limbo, residents of Sarheta and Kotla are deeply annoyed with the government's decision to suspend the project. A recent delegation led by Mewat RTI Manch and the Mouji Foundation raised the matter with sub-divisional officers in Tijara, Khairthal-Alwar DC, and the chief minister's office. Yet, with the PWD's latest confirmation of the project's suspension, many in Mewat feel betrayed and side-lined—fearing that the region's historical legacy and infrastructural needs will continue to be ignored. Superintending engineer, PWD B&R, (Gurugram circle) Praveen Chaudhary said, 'The demand regarding widening of the road from Nagina to Tijara, which consists of two different roads, has seen progress, with the Nagina to Notki Road (ID 1187) of 3.5 km approved in-principle for ₹1.5 crore. For the Notki to Tijara Road, while an agreement was terminated, new proposals for a 4km-long road in Haryana and a 2km-long road in Rajasthan are being considered, despite previous geotechnical investigation issues.'
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Haryana's Nuh adopts sports-driven approach to combat drug abuse
A ground at Nagina village in Haryana's Nuh district was abuzz with excitement on a pleasant evening earlier this month. Hundreds of sports enthusiasts, mostly youth and a few women, had gathered under floodlights — precariously hanging from makeshift wooden poles adorned with the Tricolour — to witness the final of the Mewat Kabaddi League between Dhauj and Nakhrola villages. What lent significance to this seemingly ordinary match between two villages in the State's most backward district was the underlying message of the tournament: 'Nasha Mukt Mewat (Drugs-Free Mewat)'. The Mewat region, with a significant Meo-Muslim population, encompasses not only Nuh district but also parts of Faridabad and Palwal districts in Haryana. It also extends to districts in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Surge in drug addiction Over the past decade, Haryana has witnessed a surge in drug addiction. The Mewat region is no exception, with the youth being increasingly affected by substance abuse, particularly opium, marijuana, and other forms of dry intoxicants. Rajuddin Meo, convener of the Mewat RTI Manch and one of the organisers of the tournament, acknowledged the growing issue of drug addiction in Nuh. 'There is no denying this fact. More than a dozen villages in the district are particularly affected,' he said. The Mewat Kabaddi League aims to promote sports in villages as a way to steer youth and teenagers away from substance abuse, he said. The five-day tournament, held from April 30 to May 4, exceeded the organisers' expectations, attracting a dozen teams from Nuh, Faridabad, and Palwal, and drawing an impressive crowd of spectators. Ferozepur Jhirka MLA Mamman Khan, who was the chief guest for the final, administered an oath to the youth, pledging to stay away from drugs and promote a drug-free Mewat. Naseem Santhawari, a 45-year-old local resident, reminisced that kabaddi was once extremely popular among the youth in Nuh's villages, but over time, its popularity waned. He said the tournament has rekindled interest in the sport. 'Suddenly, I see children and teenagers playing kabaddi in the village. It is a good sign. Drug addiction has also led to a rise in cases of theft and robbery. I hope such efforts will encourage the youth to adopt sports and shun drugs and crime,' he said. The Mewat RTI Manch's efforts in organising the league received support from the administration, too, with an ambulance, a Police Control Room vehicle, and police personnel present to ensure law and order. Physical training instructors and coaches from the Education and Sports departments also assisted in conducting the matches. Raising awareness The large turnout of hundreds and sometimes thousands provided an opportunity for organisers and officials to address various health and social issues beyond sports, including rising tuberculosis cases, high dropout rates, and drug addiction. 'TB is prevalent in Nuh. In line with Haryana's mission to be TB-free, health officials used the event to educate people about it. Education officials also took the opportunity to share information about the ongoing school admission process,' said Mr. Meo. District Sports Officer Manoj Kumar praised individuals, panchayats, and the Mewat RTI Manch for their efforts in organising the tournament. He termed it a 'big success' and suggested that it should be expanded to every block in the district. Mr. Kumar said the local administration is also focused on promoting sports and aiming to achieve 100% participation from panchayats in its 'Khelo Mewat' initiative. He said it features five sports, including volleyball, tug of war, and wrestling, with flexible timings and venues to maximise participation. He added that the district administration is working to improve sports infrastructure, provide better facilities at stadiums, and distribute sports kits to panchayats. The District Sports Officer said sports can not only keep the youth away from drug addiction but also open doors to jobs in the Army, police, and Railways. He said despite the lack of infrastructure and support so far, boys and girls from Nuh have achieved remarkable success in sports, even winning laurels at the international level.
