Former state finance minister Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari today urged the governor led administration to ensure the sufferings of people for want of basic amenities are reduced especially in the Srinagar city.
“Normally the administration was expected to be on toes inview the sanctity of month of Ramadan. But people of the city are decryingabout dilapidated roads, pesky power situation, skyrocketing of prices ofessential items and acute shortage of potable water,” Bukhari, in a statementtoday, said.
Bukhari said the Srinagar Municipal Corporation seemed to bein deep slumber as hundreds of stray dogs are on prowl in different areas ofthe city.
“School going children and old aged persons are underconstant threat of dog bites. Presence of large number of stray dogs especiallyduring morning and evening hours hampers the movement of people who fear toattend congregational prayers in mosques,” he remarked. He demanded effectivemeasures for controlling fast growing population of stray dogs in the city.
He said, “Since the first day of Ramadan, people in thevalley especially in various parts of Srinagar city have been facing frequentpower cuts and unprecedented price hike in essentials items.”
“The power cuts at the time of Sehri and Iftaar are giving atough time to the people,” he added.
Bukhari said, “despite announcements made by the districtadministration about formation of committees to check the undue price rise, thepeople are being compelled to purchase the essential items on exorbitant ratesin absence of any effective mechanism on the ground.”
The former minister demanded that the price list of allessential items including fruits, vegetables and other Ramadan specific itemslike dates, etc., should beconspicuously displayed at all market places and shops.
Similarly, he said, “Roads in various parts of cityespecially the link roads in Chanapora, Mehjoor Nagar, Natipora, Naikbagh,Eidgah, Noorbagh, Firdous Abad, Bal Garden, Nund Reshi Colony Bemina, Shalteng,Sonwar are in dilapidated condition.”
“Today is the eighth day of the holy month of Ramadan,however, our problems keep on compounding as the government seems to be makingpeople suffer for want of potable water, electricity, availability of essentialitems and smooth roads,” Bukhari said.
He also emphasized on the administration to provide hasslefree parking facilities at various places in particular near the prominentmosques and shrines in the city.
Bukhari also demanded the repair of street lights whereverfound defunct especially on the roads and allied links leading to mosques andshrines in the city so that people don’t face any difficulty during evening andearly morning hours.