Kupwara Diary

Sochalyari villagers demand upgradation of health centre

The residents of Sochalyari village in Ramhall area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district are craving for better health facilities so that the hardships being faced by them may end.

The residents said that although a health centre exists in the village lack of staff and other facilities was haunting them. They said that only a single employee was posted here hampering the smooth functioning of the centre. They said that since the health centre was functioning without a doctor, for a small ailment they were forced to visit PHC Tarathpora by travelling over ten kilometres. The residents also alleged that the health centre was lacking in medicines. The residents have appealed to LG Manoj Sinha to upgrade their health centre so that the hardships being faced by them in absence of better health facilities may end.

Children’s Park Handwara remains devoid of basic facilities

The residents of Handwara and adjacent villages have urged authorities to upgrade Children’s Park Handwara with basic facilities so that people visiting here may not face inconvenience. The lack of basic facilities at Children’s Park Handwara has left the locals anguished.

“People prefer to visit Children’s Park Handwara with their kids but due to lack of toilet facility, they face inconvenience. Lack of drinking water also adds to their woes,” said a local.

“Lack of substantial dustbins and lighting systems has also been a concern for visitors but concerned authorities seem to be watching as mute spectators,” he added. The residents said that over 6 crore rupees were spent on the construction of this park but unknowingly it has been left without basic amenities. The people also complained about the uncovered drain which passes through the park. “Parents always remain apprehensive about their children due to the uncovered drain. Previously few toddlers have fallen into this drain resulting in injuries to them but the concerned authorities have not taken any tangible steps to cover the drain,” another local, Mohammad Rustam said. The residents have sought immediate intervention of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kupwara Ayushi Sudan in this regard so that the hardships being faced by the visitors may end.

Residents of Check Sanzipora rue lack of potable drinking water

Lack of potable drinking water has been a great concern for over hundred households of Check Sanzipora in Mawer area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. The residents of the area said that the old water supply scheme has got damaged and as a result of that they hardly get water to drink. “Fourty years ago a storage tank was constructed in our village in which water is being stored and later supplied to over hundred households. The storage tank has witnessed severe damage due to which water oozes out from it and hardly remains stored, making things even worse for the locals,” said Ajaz Ahmad, a local.

“Water is not being stored in the tank regularly which creates more problems and issues for the general public. If water is stored every day in the tank, the intensity of the problem may be lessened but that is not being done,” he added.

The residents said that to cope up with the water crisis they have constructed wells in the village but they don’t suffice the need. “I am unable to figure out if water is supposed to be supplied to every habitation under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) then why our village has been left out. I believe that our village has been neglected by the concerned authorities, that is why our miseries are being watched as mute spectators,” said another local. The residents said that they have brought this issue into the notice of concerned authorities numerous times but nothing has been done so far in this regard. They have sought immediate intervention of Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Ayushi Sudan in this regard so that their sufferings may end soon.