By: Mohammad Tahir
KUPWARA: The Digital India slogan seems good on papers only, whereas the practical work has not been implemented yet, the residents of Chatwan and Behak Saba villages of Kupwara district are without basic facilities like roads, electricity and mobile communication.
‘Unfortunate part of the story is that far flung villages like Manigah and its adjacent areas are without basic facilities in the 21st century when other countries set their foot on moon, said locals.
Locals of Behak saba said that, In 2016, the foundation stone for a project at the cost of Rs 6, 55.56 lakh was laid down by the then MLA and minister for Rural Development Department and Law and Justice, which is still pending as it was.
Another resident, Riyaz Ahmad said that the roads and culverts were supposed to be constructed under the scheme of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) by the Roads and Building (R&B) Department, but nothing has been done till date.
“There is no electricity supply in Chatwan, Sabaya and Behak Sabya villages, due to which the area is reeling under darkness because of the callous attitude of the departments concerned,” a local said.
However it is learnt that the High Transmission (HT) lines were fixed to some meters only and that was also left incomplete, but the Low Transmission (LT) lines were never laid in these two villages.
Our school children, old aged people and patients have always suffered due to lack of good roads, there are hundreds of problems that we are facing on a daily basis, locals informed.
Riyaz Ahmad said that, a month ago he made a grievance in LG office, after which some officials of the PDD visited the area, but nothing was done so far, only false promises are made to masses.
A letter was dispatched to the Executive Engineer R&B Division Kupwara, and the Executive Engineer, PDD Kupwara by Joint Director Planning, Kupwara.
A representation was made by the residents of Sabaya, Chatwan and Behak Saba, “this office in receipt of representation from the residents of Sabaya Chatwan and Behak Saba regarding electricity, road and other issues. The contents of which are self explanatory, reads a letter.
It said that, in this backdrop, I am directed to request you to look into the matter and report this office within a week’s time positively.
Residents of the two villages made a representation before the Deputy Commissioner Kupwara wherein the locals of two villages mentioned the continents as, a strict action against R&B department for showing non compliance of direction.
“Electric poles, wires were given but they are lying on roads, similar situation on mobile network system”, reads an application that was submitted by the residents of Sabaya Chatwan.