Several villages of Gulabgarh area in sub-division Mahore await road construction and electrification as the government has failed to construct roads as well as supply the areas with electricity.
The residents of Dewal Bhat Poora, Dogga, Nihoch andShabrass alleged, “On one hand, the concerned department erected power poles afew months ago, but on the other, they forgot to lay down the wires.”
“It is the twenty-first century and our area has still notbeen electrified. While the world moves towards 5G, we continue to reel underdarkness,” they said.
Shafiq Ahmed Malik, a resident of Dewal-Dogga, said, “Due toabsence of electricity, we remain disconnected with the modern world.”
Another resident, Rayaz Bhat, said, “The department hadpromised to provide electricity, but still more than half of the villageremains un-electrified.”
On being contacted, executive engineer, power developmentdepartment, Vinod Kumar, assured to look into the issue. “The work will startwithin one week,” he said.
Meanwhile, talking about lack of roads, Mushtaq AhmedChoudhary, a local, said, “If the government managed to construct roads inother hilly areas of the state, why has it failed to do the same in Gulabgarh.We face immense hardships due to the lack of motorable roads. We are forced tocarry ration on our shoulders for several kilometers.”
The locals alleged that the government started constructionof roads a long time ago, but “it remains suspended since several years”.
The villages affected due to lack of roads include Baransal,Gulabgarh, Kaidoora, Wandara, Dewal, Dogga, Nihoch, Barmidar, Shabrass andArbais.
The locals appealed the administration to look into thematter and solve their grievance.
On being contacted, deputy commissioner, Reasi, Indu KanwalChib, accepted that there is severe death of road infrastructure in Gulabgarh.”I joined as the DC 38 days ago. During my tenure, I have already solvedvarious PMGSY road disputes and I will personally visit Gulabgarh and look intothe issues of the people once the elections are over,” she assured.