Kokernag: Despite tall claims of the government about development of rural areas in Kashmir, many villages in this famous South-Kashmir tourist resort are devoid of all the basic amenities.
 With electricity yet to light their homes, roads and potable drinking water still a distant dream; these villages reflect a perfect picture of an area forgotten by the authorities.
 To mention few, the villages of Dramdalaw, Nai Bisti Bidder, Ahlan Bala, Kathanpora Gadole, Chree, Dar Mohalla, Gujjar Bati Hillpark, Redwani, Achu, Gugnar, Gorankhal, Darun, Urnarar, Razikang and Arinar have not yet seen the electric-bulb not to mention of electricity while the villagers of Cherward say that the electricity was available to them a decade ago but was snapped later for the reasons better known the authorities.
 Although the area is known for its fresh water springs, the villagers are devoid of any water supply scheme and the women folk have to cover a long distance to fetch water.
 The villages don’t have the road facility and if there is any available that is in a dilapidated condition with no transport plying, forcing the villagers to cover the distance to Kokernag on foot.
 The residents of Cherward, a remote village comprising population of about 500 people, 17 Kilometers away from Kokernag got puzzled when asked about the electricity facility in their village. “We only see the electricity when we visit other nearby villages,” said Muhammad Jaffar, a local.
 Though the village is just four Kilometers away from Vailoo, it doesn’t have a road link, forcing the villagers to cover the distance on foot. “Not even a single MLA has bothered to visit the village and though we have time and again been apprising them about our problems and grievances, but to no avail,” said Jaffar.
 The condition of other villages Dramdalaw Naibasti-Bidder, Ahlan Balan and Kathanpora Gadole is no better. People here too are desperate enough to see their homes electrified and the dry water tapes gushing.   
 “Quite often we come to know about the availability of electricity in our village when our elders recollect the memories of late eighties, but now I am 18, and so far no one has made any effort to restore the electricity snapped two decades ago,” said Sartaj Ahmad, a resident of Achu.
 Residents of Chree village, eight kilometers away from Kokernag say that despite being an area which receives no electricity, the government has even failed to provide the solar lights to them.
 The villagers say that they are forced to consume the muddy water from the small streams passing through the village as the Public Health Engineering (PHE) has never bothered to provide portable water.
 The villagers say that during summers there was an outbreak of water-borne diseases like jaundice and gastroenteritis due to consumption of the filthy water of the streams. 

Lastupdate on : Thu, 8 Dec 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 8 Dec 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 9 Dec 2011 00:00:00 IST