Kupwara: Scores of shopkeepers running their shops in and adjacent to the New Bus Stand Handwara are aghast over the lack of basic amenities including electricity and potable drinking water.
The shopkeepers said that they were suffering and their business was getting affected due to the absence of electricity.
“In the summers, some shopkeepers deal with ice-creams but due to lack of electricity are unable to do so,” said a shopkeeper.
“We many times approached the authorities for the installation of a 100 KV transformer at New Bus Stand Handwara so that shopkeepers might get respite but nothing has been done in this regard so far. Resultantly, not only shopkeepers but common people too are suffering,” Traders Federation Handwara President AjazSofi told Greater Kashmir.
He said that during the recent visit of Lieutenant Governor’s Advisor Baseer Khan to Handwara, the issue was brought to his notice and that he had assured of redressing the genuine grievance within a week’s time.
The shopkeepers also complained about the lack of drinking water at New Bus Stand Handwara.
They said that the concerned department was not doing anything to redress the issue of the shopkeepers.
They sought immediate intervention of Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Imam Din.
Executive Engineer Power Development Department (PDD) Handwara told Greater Kashmir that he received a formal order on Monday for installation of transformer at New Bus Stand Handwara.
“The transformer will be installed within a couple of days,” he said.