Shopian Diary

Residents seek widening of Shopian-Turkwangam road

The residents of many villages in south Kashmir’s Shopian district have demanded the widening of Shopian-Turkwangam road.  The narrow road passing through a dozen villages is causing immense hardships to both the residents and commuters.

According to the residents, the road connects several apple rich villages including Pinjoora, Pahnoo, Pehlipora, Moolu Dangerpora, Chitragam and Darazpora. It also links the area with the Lassipora Industrial Estate and many villages in Zainpora belt.

" The road at some places is so narrow that two vehicles plying in opposite directions could hardly pass", said Zaid Ahmad, a resident.

He said that  pesky traffic jams are particularly witnessed during the harvesting season when hundreds of apple laden trucks ply along the road. Ahmad said that the road significantly increases travel time .

"It increases travel time usually by 30 to 40 minutes", he said.

The residents said all their pleas for the widening of the road have gone unheard.

The road has assumed more significance with the emergence of Lassipora Industrial area as it also connects to it.

Residents said that the road has not been widened for the last many years giving a harrowing experience to the commuters. "Travel along the road sometimes could prove fatal. There always remains a threat of accidents", said the residents. The residents appealed to the authorities to widen the road forthwith.

Hardships in Choudhary Gund New Colony due to lack of drainage system

In the absence of a drainage system, the residents of Choudhary Gund New Colony have to face tremendous inconveniences.

The locality falling between Narwaw and Palpora villages is bereft of drains, forcing the residents to encounter a host of difficulties. During the bad weather conditions, the water inundates the streets and sometimes also enters the houses.

"The sewage water also runs through the orchards, causing damage to the apple trees", said Mohammad Ashraf, a resident. He said that it is one of the reasons for the root rot. Another resident said that they had to dig pits for the sewage water.

" In the absence of drainage, our locality remains waterlogged and it also caused extensive damage to the road passing through the locality", said the resident. The residents have made a fervent appeal to the Deputy Commissioner and requested him to direct the concerned department to carry out the work.