Shopian, Mar 4: Two villages in this south Kashmir district designated as model villages in 2005 and 2009 mock at the government’s claim that work  in  115 model villages has been completed. 
 Village Tulran was designated as a model village in 2005 with an estimated cost of Rs 1.20 crores.   Surprisingly foundation stone of the model village was laid near Chak Sangren, 2 kilometers away from Tulran. A community center constructed at Tulran village is presently being used as a private school.
 Locals said most computers and the lights which were sanctioned for the village were distributed in adjoining villages.  “The computer center presently has five systems but the center always remains closed. At least 35 street lights were sanctioned but only five were installed in our village,” locals said. 
 “Only two streets were macadamized while all other lanes and by lanes are in a dilapidated condition,” locals said. “The LT and mainly HT lines are very low lying. These have been tied with trees and pose a threat to the life of inmates. Last year HT line fell causing on the spot death of a pedestrian.”   
 Another village Karewa Manloo, 6 kilometers from Shopian town, was designated as model village in 2009 and was rechristened as Karewa Shadab. Foundation stone was laid by the Chief Minister.
 “The work on the community centre was stopped half way,” residents said.   
 “Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in 2009 announced that our village has been designated as model village and all the facilities will be provided. His announcement has remained confined to papers only. A community centre was constructed that too partially,” said Shabir Ahmad.
 “Even our village is without basis amenities,” Ahmed said. “We were told that Community center, Computer center, boys high school and girls middle school would be built. Other promises were connecting the village with Mughal road, construction of irrigation canal, and drinking water supply, but nothing has been done.”
 Locals said when Professor Saifuddin Soz was the union minister for water resources he had  sanctioned Rs five crores for the water supply scheme in 2008. “Work was started but soon after it was abandoned. God only knows what happened to the money which was sanctioned for the water supply scheme,” locals added.    
 They said that despite Chief Minister rechristening the village name of the village continues to be Karewa Manloo in official records.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 4 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 4 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 5 Mar 2012 00:00:00 IST