Rakh-e-Arth, once a wetland at Bemina here that was turned into a site for rehabilitation of Dal dwellers shifted from the lake for its preservation, has turned into a slum.
The dislocated population from the Dal was relocated in thearea but it has no basic civic amenities.
The much-hyped rehabilitation of Dal dwellers is a part ofproject to conserve dwindling Dal Lake, the pride of the capital city ofSrinagar.
In 2007, the government announced to relocate Dal dwellersand rehabilitate them at Rakh-e-Arth which was supposed to be developed onmodern lines, with all facilities like hospitals, schools, and other amenities.
However, the locality inhabiting 115 families, lack health,education and transportation facilities.
Health experts say local people living at Rakh-e-Arth aresuffering from multiple non-communicable diseases and psychiatric issues.
“There is no public health centre or a small dispensary inour locality. What is worst part of sorry state of affairs is that we don’thave even transport facilities available to rush to hospital in case of anymedical emergency,” said Bilal Ahmad, a relocated resident.
In a recently held free medical camp in the locality,medicos observed that due to lack of hygiene and healthcare facilities theresidents of Rakh-e-Arth are being consumed by disease and other problems.
“Entire population including men, women and children aresuffering here. So, they have adjustment related problems because a labourerhas to go from this place to Dalgate. This place has no transport facilities aswell,” said noted psychiatrist Dr Mushtaq Margoob who headed the free medicalcamp.
“The population at Rakh-e-Arth are suffering from manymultiple non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cardiac and hypertension, hypothyroid,severe depression, and psychiatric issues. They need immediate medicalfacilities here at least in form of dispensary,” he added.
The locality also does not have a ration shop. Families haveto travel to Dalgate area for receiving monthly food grains from governmentstores.
“Then we have to pay Rs 200 to 300 to a load carrier tocarry ration back to this place,” said Ashfaq Ahmad, another relocatedresident.
The site also has school and children of the relocatedfamilies have to travel long distances for basic education.
Chairman Kashmir Welfare Trust, Manzoor Ahmad Wangoo, whohas constructed houses for 112 families at Rakh-e-Aarth and runs from pillar topost for their welfare, said that health and education must be a priority forthe authorities.
“Government had agreed to provide us 5 kanals of land atRakh-e-Aarth for construction of a school. But no headway has been made fordemarcation of land so that we could start a branch of Bilalya EducationalInstitute here,” Wangnoo said.
He added that he is pained to see kids travelling longdistances while many others sit at home in absence of a school at locality.