South kashmir Diary
Kulgam villages lack basic amenities
The residents of Tengpora Chanderkoot village in Kulgam's Devsar tehsil are facing tremendous hardships in the absence of basic amenities of life. The village, located barely 10 kilometers from Kulgam town, lacks access to safe drinking water, electricity and even a proper road.
The residents told Greater Kashmir that they have to cover a long distance to fetch water from a stream.
Abdul Rehman Reshi, a resident, said that the women folk have to cover a distance of at least 3 kilometers to fetch water.
“During the frosty winters, it becomes very difficult for us to bring the water, travelling a long distance ", Reshi said.
He said that due to the consumption of unsafe water the threat of water-borne diseases looms large over the area.
“Despite numerous appeals to the authorities over the years, our pleas have gone unanswered”, said Reshi.
Additionally, the road leading to the village is in a state of disrepair, further exacerbating their difficulties. “Our miseries do not stop here, the village has not been even properly electrified", he said.
The resident said that the village is without electric poles and at least 50 household reel under darkness. “All the successive governments have failed to provide us with the basic amenities", he said.
Meanwhile, the residents of Razloo Kund village have complained about the shortage of drinking water in the area.
The residents said that they have been facing acute shortage of water for the last 10 years.
“We have approached the authorities several times but to no avail”, said the residents.
They appealed to the authorities to provide the village with safe drinking water.
Narrow road in Shopian village irks residents
A narrow road leads to Digam village, located on the bank of Rambiara river barely two kilometers from Shopian town, causing tremendous inconvenience to residents and commuters in the area. The residents said that the road is too narrow for two vehicles to pass simultaneously.
"Sometimes a motorist has to wait for 10 to 15 minutes to give way to another vehicle", said Nazir Ahmad, a resident.
He said that a prominent school is located in the village and it becomes difficult for the school buses to ply seamlessly along the road.
“The road also leads to a famous Hindu shrine which is visited by hundreds of pilgrims during their annual yatra", said Ahmad. He also said that the road is dotted by potholes at a few places.
The residents said that a stream of dumpers, tractors and tippers ply along the road to extract minerals from the nearby Ramibara stream, making the road too congested. The residents appealed to the authorities to widen the road forthwith.
