Residents of Kupwara area face hardships in absence of basic amenities

Kupwara, Jan 3: The residents of Yemlar, Rajwar area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district have expressed strong resentment against authorities for failing to ensure basic amenities to them, thus putting them into a lot of inconveniences.

The residents said that the 3 km road of their village which takes off from Zachaldara was dotted with potholes on multiple spots due to which commuters were suffering badly. The residents said that the condition of the road was severely pathetic but the concerned department was watching miseries of locals as mute spectators.

"We have repeatedly brought this matter to the attention of the concerned authorities, only to be told, time and again, that the macadamisation of our road is included in the planning stages. Yet, as the year draws to a close, the narrative shifts, and the officials present an entirely different version of events," remarked a local resident.

The residents are also anguished with the Power Development Department for resorting to unusual and erratic power cuts. The residents said that even after paying their electricity bills regularly, they were not being provided electricity as per set schedule.

Despite the inconsistent power supply, the residents claimed, the increase in power tariffs was unabated.

“Most of the people here belong to the labour class and the power tariff hike which has been extended to Rs 780 per month happens to be beyond the competence of locals to pay,” said a local, Abdul Hadi.

Lack of potable water was also giving a tough time to the residents. The residents said that most of the households in their village were not getting tap water because the water pipe line laid decades ago was damaged with the result only some households were getting water.

The residents said that they were unable to figure out why the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scheme was not extended to their village when every village is supposed to get tap water under JJM.

The residents have appealed to the Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) Handwara Sajad Gani Lone to intervene and address these issues forthwith.