Guzarbal, Mar 11: The inhabitants of Guzarbal area in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district have castigated the successive governments of failing to provide them electricity.
 “We received electricity till 1992. But after floods hit the area, the power supply was snapped and never restored by the Power Development Department,” the villagers told Greater Kashmir.
 They said the transmission lines and transformers installed in the area were allegedly sold by the concerned officials to the adjacent villages. “We have been forced to rely on traditional ways to illuminate our homes,” the residents said adding that due to smoke emanating from the illuminating devices, scores of children and elders have developed respiratory disorders.
 “We apprised the officials many a times about the hardships faced by the people due to non-availability of electricity and submitted representation to the senior functionaries of the department regarding them same. But nothing substantial has been done so far,” the villagers told Greater Kashmir adding the inhabitants were especially suffering immensely during the chilling winter conditions.
 The residents said that they also staged several demonstrations in favour of their demands, but to no avail.
 "We are fed up with the hollow assurances and promises made by the politicians in run up to the Assembly elections,” said Gulzar Ahmed, adding that after elections, the politicians fail to address the grievances of people. “Once the elections are over, we continue to spend our evenings in darkness,” the residents added.
 "The plight of people in our village shows the lackadaisical approach of the government officials who are supposed to work for the welfare of the public and provide them the basic amenities including electricity, water and roads," Muhammad Shaban, said.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 11 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 11 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 IST