Budgam: For inhabitants of Zagoo Arizal and twenty adjoining villages in tehsil Beerwah electricity still remains a dream.
 Due to failure of the successive regimes to provide these villages with electricity, the inhabitants continue a primitive practice of using candles and oil lamps to light up their modest homes.
 These villages are situated in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district which is roughly 30 kilometers from the summer capital. Surrounded by mountains and mesmerizing landscapes, Zagoo Arizal even does not have transformers, wires and electric poles. 
 “It seems we are living in primitive times. Ironically despite generating 758 mega-watts, the State Government has failed to provide us with electricity. This is sheer indifference with us,” said the villagers of Zagoo Arizal.  
 Mudasir Ahmad, a local youth feels frustrated in absence of electricity in the village.
 “We feel discriminated due to denial of electricity which is one of the basic amenities. I feel envy to see electricity in other areas of the Valley,” he said.
 The villagers said they have been constantly demanding electrification of the area.
 “But the concerned officials did not pay any heed. Our State supplies electricity to other states but it is ironical that we have been neglected,” Iqbal Ahmad a local said. 
 The locals claimed that 20 villages in Beerwah, are yet to be electrified.
 “This has put question mark on functioning of the Government which promised to provide basic amenities to people of the Valley,” the locals said. 
 When contacted Assistant Executive Engineer, PDD, Beerwah, Syed Javaid Naqashbandi acknowledged the problem.
 “I wonder why twenty villages in Beerwah are yet to be electrified while Kashmir produces ample electricity. From Arizal to Lacnanpora Drang, most of the villages are un-electrified. Some parts of Zagoo village are yet to be electrified as our department does not have funds for it,” the AEE said.
 “However, we are taking measures to electrify these villages at the earliest,” he said.
 The AEE also blamed the Indus water treaty for power problem in Beerwah. “Due to the treaty we are not able to store water and generate power. Besides there are many socio-economic and political problems due to which we are not able to harvest hydro electricity completely,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 17 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 17 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 18 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST