Belying tall claims of the government about providing better infrastructure, the residents of city’s Bahu Fort area on Sunday alleged that development has yet not reached their area, despite it being represented by the Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, a group of locals said that the condition of roads, drains, water supply system and primary health centers in Bahu Fort area lie dilapidated, though this area of Gandhi Nagar constituency has been among the well represented ones in the government since 2002.
“Since 2002, Bahu Fort has been represented by prominent leaders. The locality has seen two-time cabinet minister (from 2002 to 2014) Raman Bhalla of Congress represent it, but things have never changed,” said Pardeep Kumar, a local.
“The people had pinned their hopes on BJP’s Kavinder Gupta, who was recently inducted into the cabinet as the deputy to Chief Minister, but he has also disappointed us,” Kumar said.
“Since the last three years, streets in Bahu Fort are in terrible condition, while the primary health centers lack basic amenities such as cotton and bandages. The water supply is in the worst condition possible and people are forced to fulfill their requirements from supply tanks, costing more than Rs 50,000,” he added.
The main road of Bahu Fort, that connects ward number 47 and 48 which housed the famous Bawe Wali Mata, Bagh-e-Bahu park, Fish aquarium, Hari-Ki-Paddi temple complex, upcoming Jammu cable car projects and residential areas, lies in a dilapidated condition, even though 20,000 people live here. Similarly, the condition of inner lanes, including Paccka Talab, Kaccha Talab, Old Basti, Gorkha Nagar, New Colony, Qasim Nagar, Sheikh Nagar, Gujjar Mohalla, Press Morh, Manhas Ghar and Mohalla Bagh, is in shambles.
“During the 2014 Assembly elections, the politicians assured the local populace that the roads in the area will be repaired and the drainage system will be improved, but nothing has been done yet,” locals alleged.
“Due to the pathetic condition of the roads, people face immense hardships. Even the visitors and tourists to Bawe Wali Mata temple rue the government apathy,” they said.
While talking about the lack of proper drainage system, the commuters said, “The problem increases manifolds during the rainy season. The drains get choked and the water overflows onto the roads, making them accident prone,” said Raj Kumar, a resident.
The locals further said that the problem gets compounded when patients and expecting mothers need to be ferried to the hospitals, while the transporters rue the damage caused to their vehicles due to bad condition of the roads. “We have time and again apprised the authorities and concerned MLA about the condition of these roads, but our appeals have fallen to deaf ears,” the locals alleged.
The residents appealed to the administration to intervene and redress their issues at an earliest.