Birmbal (Haihama): It has been more than three decades since Kupwara  was given the status of a district, but many villages situated on the outskirts of the district headquarter are devoid of basic amenities like electricity, roads and health facilities.
 In Haihama area, a few kilometers from Kupwara town, residents still use primitive methods to illuminate their rooms. Students and patients have to walk many kilometers through treacherous areas, in the absence of roads and transportation.
 Residents of Birimbal hamlet, 7 kilometers from district headquarter, have not seen electricity till date. For, Summender Khatana, 50, and his family, which includes his wife, five children and a daughter in law, burning kerosene chimneys to illuminate their home is a routine.  
 Sonawali, Bati Balya, Chutwun, Tandav, Subhaya and Pandov, Miyan Patti, Shalubutta and Kagani Patti with a population of more than 8000 souls and around 1000 households are still un-electrified and there is not a single health centre in the area. 
 The story does not end here. Leaving aside electricity, the lack of   link roads, culverts and foot crossings on different nallahs are other big problems which villagers face.
 People have to traverse difficult terrains on foot and carry the ration and other goods on their shoulders.  “In absence of roads we have to carry patients on our shoulders to the bus stop at Manzhar which is 4 kilometers away from Kupwara,” residents said. “Many patients, including expecting mothers, die on way to hospital.”   
 “Fed up with lack of basic amenities nearly 30 per cent of the villagers have already migrated to towns like Kupwara, Handwara, Sulkoot, Bumhama Drugmulla and Tikker,” said Tanveer Ahmad a student.
 Moreover, to get items of daily requirement like milk, vegetables villagers are forced to cover a rough stretch of 6 kilometer to reach Manzhar village.
 “Only government programme  which has made its presence felt in this forgotten area is MGNREGA  which is providing livelihood to the poor  villagers  over the past couple of  years” said the villagers.
 “We approached the authorities many times and asked them to take some effective measures to get our villages electrified under RGGVY and construct roads under PMGSY,” they said. “Till date no one has paid any heed towards our pleas as they have fallen flat on deaf ears.”

Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST