SHOPIAN DIARY

Murran residents rue lack of amenities

Lack of dustbins, litter-strewn streams and turbid water during the  rainy season are some of the issues confronting the residents of Pulwama district's  Murran village.

The residents told Greater Kashmir that they were forced to throw the household waste out in the open in the absence of dustbins in the village.   Showkat Ahmad, a local resident, said that the authorities had many times assured them of installing the dustbins, but to no avail. He also said that the garbage had choked a narrow stream passing through the village.

The village, comprising around 1600 households, is home to the majority of mutton dealers in the district.  The mutton shop owners and suppliers dispose of the remains of animals in streams, polluting them significantly.

"We have brought the matter to the notice of authorities umpteen times. Even they conceded to our demand of constructing an abattoir in the area, but later no action was taken on the matter", said Ahmad.

Another resident Qaisar Ahmad said that the residents were forced to consume the muddy water particularly during the rainy season in the absence of a modern filtration plant.

He said that in the village water borne diseases had broken out several times due to consumption of contaminated water.

However, Nisar Ahmad , Executive Engineer Jal Shakti Department  told Greater Kashmir that a filtration plant had been  installed in Mitrigam area, which supplied water to the area.

“A local stream passing through the area is the source of the water supply scheme which is further augmented by a tube well”, he said.

Residents of Sheikh Mohalla area of Shopian demand dustbins

The residents of Sheikh Mohalla Kanipora in south Kashmir's Shopian town have complained of lack of dustbins in their locality. The residents say that they have to face hardships in the absence of dustbins in their locality.  According to the residents the garbage collection van shows up only twice in a week to collect the household.

“We understand the limitations of the municipal authorities in sending the garbage collection vehicles on a daily basis, but at least they should have installed the dustbins in the area", said the residents.

They said that the pedestrians walking through the area also litter the streets with empty plastic water  bottles, wrappers and polythene bags. "We brought the issue to the notice of municipal authorities but to no avail", said the residents.

They appealed to the Municipal Council Shopian (MCS) to resolve the issue. An official from MCS said that the matter would be resolved soon.

Pulwama residents irked over dilapidated road

A portion of the circular road in south Kashmir's Pulwama town is dotted with numerous potholes, causing tremendous inconveniences to motorists plying along the road.

Javed Ahmad, a commuter, told Greater Kashmir that a significant portion of the road starting from Women’s college Chowk to Tahab Crossing  had developed multiple potholes, causing damages to the vehicles.

"The battered surface of the road could also result in accidents", Ahmad said.

He said that the bikers were more vulnerable as the rough surface could easily throw them off balance.  The circular road was constructed a few years ago to circumvent pesky traffic jams in the town.   The road to a large degree helped to reduce the traffic congestion in the town. However, the battered portion of the road dissuaded many commuters from plying on it. "The road needs immediate repair", said the commuters.