“We can’t wait for next 60 years to get connectivity”
Waheed Bhat
Bandipora, December 24:- Belaying the tall claims made by Government of providing better road connectivity to remote areas of the Valley, residents of Sheikh-Muqam Aloosa area of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district are up in arms against the administration for failing to construct road from Aloosa to Sheikh-Ul Alam ziyarat.
Disappointed by the government, villagers have started constructing road on their own as the government failed to construct road even under MGNREGA which is under implementation with soul purpose of rural connectivity.
Residents alleged the local officers of falling prey to politics as works are being done under political influence and few political workers are benefitted. They said the Minister for Rural Development have directed officials to prefer road connectivity under MGNREGA but we have not been connected to Aloosa village even in 21st century.
The youth of the village said they can’t be fooled so long and they won’t beg before officers anymore and will pool money to get road connectivity to the village which will be shame for the government.
Alleging the district administration of improper approach towards the rural areas which according to them has resulted in backwardness of the areas, the locals said that, They (authorities) have failed them on every front adding that it is because of this step-motherly approach, that we are yet to see any development in their village.
Residents said they approached authorities time and again to get the road repaired but their pleas till date have fallen flat on deaf ears.
” Even last month we gave representation to Deputy Commissioner again and he assured us of starting work within days but it was just a hallow assurance as till date nothing has been done on ground,” said Nooruddin Turk.
He said that he along with villagers again approached him to remind him about the promise but he said he will start work next year proving how incompetent they are towards local populace.
Every year the government asserts that they are spending crores of rupees for the upgradation of roads under Pradhan Mantri Gharam Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), MGNREGA and other allied schemes, but locals reject the governemnt’s claim and say nothing is being done for maintenance of this road.
Residents expressed resentment over the performance of their legislator in sanctioning development activities.
“Inefficiency of our representative is the root cause of our overall problems and lack of basic amenities, ” said a youth, Javid Ahmad.
” It is really unfortunate our village still lacks road connectivity and government including local legislator has maintained intriguing silence,” he added.
Residents said they put in their hard earned money to construct road as they don’t want to pass their legacy of backwardness to next generation.
“Most of us are farmers or labourers. We hardly manage to feed our children. Still, every household contributed over the months – some with very little and some as much as they can afford according to their capacity to construct this road,” they said.