Hyhama (Kupwara), Nov 5: Tabassum (name changed) from this remote village of the frontier district is getting married this Sunday. But what makes this entire festive mood look stale is the thought that bridegroom will have to foot a 3-kilometer distance to reach his bride’s house at Balhama as no vehicle operator is ready to ply on the bumpy and dilapidated road.
 Hayhama comprises of 20 villages and is just 4-kilometers away from district headquarter Kupwara. “Transporters have suspended services to several villages and now we have to walk by foot,” said Saif-uallah Khan, a resident, adding, “Successive governments have ignored us and the condition of the road went from bad to worse.”
 “Many a times marital relations have broken due to inaccessibility of this town,” he disclosed.
 The residents said that they brought the plight into the notice of past authorities but to no avail.
 “Hayhama with 10 thousand voters plays a decisive factor in election. But legislators treat it as a vote bank and turn a blind eye towards our problems,” said Ghualm Hussain Khan of Halmatpora.
 “Last year the chief minister, Omar Abdullah, visited here during election camping, he assured us that the road would be repaired. But the promise remained unfulfilled,” he added.
 The residents reminded Omar of his promise and urged him to order R&B authorities to start work.
 Despite repeated attempts, executive engineer R&B division was not available for comments.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 5 Nov 2009 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 5 Nov 2009 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:00:00 IST