Kupwara Diary

9 years on Bakiaker people await construction of new bridge

The residents of Bakiaker have said that non availability of a concrete bridge in their locality was giving them a tough time and that authorities were watching miseries of people as mute spectators.

The residents said that in 2014 flash floods had damaged one pillar of the existing bridge following which the traffic was suspended over it for several months. “Later concerned authorities repaired the bridge but only Light Motor Vehicles (LMV) were allowed to ply over it and for Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMV) have to take the longest route via Wadipora to reach Bakiaker,” a local told Greater Kashmir.

The residents said that in several incidents of fire in their locality many houses were gutted completely because the fire tenders could not reach well in time. “Had we not been deprived of a concrete bridge, the fire tenders could have saved the houses from getting completely destroyed,” said another local.

“The Bakiaker village consists of more than six hundred households and happens to be only 5 kilometers away from Handwara Town, but the successive dispensations have failed to provide basic amenities to people here. I am unable to figure out after nine long years, why we have been deprived of a bridge which has multiplied our hardships. At a time when we are supposed to take construction material to our village, the truck drivers demand us more money than normal because of the long route,” he added.

The residents said that the bridge once constructed would be a great bonus to the horticulture sector because most of the residents were dependent on orchards. The locals said that they have taken up the issue with the concerned officials several times but to no avail. They have now sought immediate intervention of LG Manoj Sinha in this regard so that their genuine and long pending demand is redressed at the earliest.

District Development Council Member (DDC) Rajwar Mir Sulaiman told Greater Kashmir that the project has been approved under NABARD to the tune of twelve crore eighty four lakh and eighty three thousand.

Lachmpora health centre craves for adequate facilities

Government health and wellness centre located in Lachampora, a remote village in Handwara is craving for adequate healthcare facilities as the centre is under staffed and lacks basic amenities.

The residents said that only a few employees were posted here who seldom turn to the centre resulting in hardships to the locals with regard to treatment. “The centre is in deplorable condition and remains shut for most of the time,” said a local.

According to residents, whenever any medical emergency arises, they are forced to book private cab to reach PHC Zachaldara or District Hospital Handwara to avail health care.

The residents said that the health centre was operating in the house of a local resident without required infrastructure needed for the smooth functioning of health centre.

“Although a five room building has been constructed for our health centre few years ago but the payment of more than seven lakhs is still pending due to which the contractor has locked the said building, demanding release of his payment,” another resident said.

The health centre caters to a huge chunk of population. However, it fails to meet the expectations of patients due to lack of staff, infrastructure and key diagnostic facilities.

The residents have sought immediate intervention of Chief Medical Officer Kupwara Dr Mohammad Ramzan in this regard so that the hardships being faced by the people may end.

Handwara government library without basic amenities; students, job aspirants suffer

The students of Handwara Sub District Thursday showed strong resentment against authorities for failing to ensure basic amenities at government tehsil library located near Handwara post office.

The students said that although the library was shifted two years before to the new building, it lacks basic amenities due to which most of the students prefer to stay away from this library.

“The primary need of a student or job aspirant happens to be availability of internet but here at this library we are suffering due to lack of internet. Infact, we don’t have computer systems here which make things worse for us,” a job aspirant from Handwara told Greater Kashmir.

“I belong to a very poor family and can’t afford a laptop or a computer system. Had there been this facility available at Handwara library, things would certainly get easier for aspirants like me with regard to preparation for different competitive exams,” he added.

The aspirants are also anguished about non-availability of quality books at the library.

“What is the fun of this library if it is not equipped with quality competitive books? Since I am preparing for the Union Public Service Commission, this library does not serve the purpose for students like me,” said another student.

The students said that they were also suffering due to lack of drinking water here. The students and job aspirants have demanded redressal of their grievances at the earliest.