Uri villages lack basic amenities
Back to Villages a ‘futile exercise’: Locals
Suhail Khan
URI-BARAMULLA, Oct 06 : As the third phase of Back to Villages programme has already commenced in J&K, the people residing in many villages along the line of control in Uri tehsil of Baramulla district have termed this government initiative as a ‘futile exercise’.
While interacting with Kashmir Despatch, residents of Lachipora, Mayaan, Kathel in border town Uri said that they are the people who have been completely forgetten by the administration in its developmental plans.
These hapless inhabitants while sharing their sufferings with Kashmir Despatch said that they are living a difficult life in absence of basic amenities.
“We don’t have any sign of development in our areas from roads to electricity to drinking water,” said Satar Din, a local at Kathel adding that they have been only befooled by successive governments especially local politicians.
“We are a helpless people who were always used as a vote bank and once our so called politicians came to power they kicked us,” he added.
Interacting with Kashmir Despatch Correspondent , the border residents explained their sufferings which as per them have been caused by local leaders.
The locals alleged that work in almost all sectors like R&B, PHE and Education has not been executed on ground but sad part of the story is that money against alloted works has been drawn without doing anything on ground by contractors with the help of local politicians as well as local administration. Kashmir Despatch couldn’t confirm these allegations.
Terming government’s back to village program a ‘big failure’, the residents in various parts of Uri said that this programme is just a show off and in reality it has never yielded any desired results sofar for the people.
They said roads, education system or any other sectors can expose the claims of the administration which were made during the last two phases of the Back to Village programme.
Meanwhile, the residents also expressed serious concern over the continuing border shelling and termed it as a disastrous for the local population.
They said years have passed and after evey shelling the residents of Uri areas alongside the LoC are being given hopes by the administration about cessation of hostilities but to no avail.
Meanwhile, a civil officer (Visiting Officer ) in a chat with Kashmir Despatch said no doubt people residing along LoCs are facing issues but administration is working round the clock for the redressal of their issues. He said due to COVID-19 pandemic there was a huge impact on developmental work but now things are getting better and issues will be sorted out accordingly.
