Residents of Wader Payeen area of Kupwara protest against lack of basic amenities

Kupwara, Jan 30: The residents of Wader Payeen in Rajwar area of north Kashmir's Kupwara district Tuesday held a protest in front of DC office. The protestors, after covering a distance of 50 kms arrived early in the morning at the DC office and started raising slogans in favor of their demands.

The protesters were raising slogans against authorities for failing to provide them the basic amenities. "We have been deprived of the basic needs of life," they added.

The protesters said that they were suffering due to lack of a proper road and potable drinking water. "Our village lacks a proper road due to which we are subjected to severe hardships. We are forced to get off from vehicles two kilometres before and then travel the remaining distance on foot to reach our village. At the time of any medical emergency we tend to take on shoulders the patients to a specific spot from where we board public transport and shift them to the nearest health centre," said a protestor.

"After numerous representations, a road was sanctioned for our village, following which work was started on the road but that remained confined to earth cutting only. We are unable to figure out why the remaining work including black topping was not extended to our road," he added.

The protesters alleged that the concerned department had taken them for a ride, forcing them to stage a protest in front of DC office Kupwara.

The residents also complained about the lack of potable drinking. "We have never seen tap water in our village. I want to ask the concerned authorities, if every habitation is supposed to get water under JJM scheme, why the said scheme has not been extended to our village," they added.

"The hike in electricity tariff has brought gloom for every household in our village. Earlier we would pay Rs 120 per month but now the tariff has been increased to Rs 780 thus making it impossible for us to pay because we belong to the labour class," the protesters added.

Later Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Ayushi Sudan listened to the grievances of aggrieved protesters in her office and assured them early redressal of their miseries.