Despite tall claims by the government on rural development, Wantiwen Satura, Padibal and Wuzul Kulnad villages of Tral sub-division are without electricity.
In this age of technology, the villagers still use oil lamps and candles to light up their houses.
“We suspend every sort of work by sunset. Our school-going children depend on lanterns and candles to study during night hours,” said Gul Mohammad, a local.
Wantiwen Satura is a remote village in tehsil Aripal of Tral sub-division where Gujars dwell in mud houses and huts. Wuzul Kulnad on Sur Pather foothills is 12 kilometers from the Tral sub-division headquarters. The third village, Gujar Basti Padibal, is close to the main town.
Not just the electricity, some of the basic facilities like roads, drinking water and schools are not available to the inhabitants at Gujar Basti Padibal. “We have to travel over five kilometers to charge our mobile phones,” said a local.
The three villages have seen no progress over the decades despite repeated assurances by the government in this regard.
Locals in these villages appealed to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to look into the matter and “provide us with all basic facilities particularly the electricity.”
Member legislative assembly Tral, Mushtaq Ahmed Shah said the locals should approach PDD department for “feasibility and detailed estimate”.