Shakeel A Khan
Early Times Report
BUDGAM, Dec 1 : Who will win the assembly elections from this constituency in Central Kashmir will be known to the people when the results will be declared on December 23, but at the same time it won't be easy for the people in power to seek the vote in the name of development since this constituency is one of the most backward states of Jammu & Kashmir.
The main areas of Budgam constituency are Peerbagh, Humhama, Narkara, Budgam town, Sheikhpora, Ichigam, Choon, Jehama, Mirgund, Sebdan, Dooru, Bemina, Galwanpora, Naidgam, Aarath, Wadwan, Haran, Soibugh, Hajibagh, Daharmunah, Gotapora, Wadwan, Sangam, Pimus, Sangam, Chattabugh, Sehpora, Nassarullahpora, Patlibagh, Chandpora, Labartal, Dadina, Waterwani, Sholipora, Wahabpora, Abadpora and Pymus.
"We the residents of the constituency have many complaints about the lack of basic facilities. We have the grievances that we suffer for want of the potable water, roads are in shambles and the health facilities are poor," said Mudasir Ahmad from Sholipora.
People of the Soibugh area say that the road connectivity in the area is very poor and the road that connects the area with Parimpora is absolutely in shambles despite the fact that it caters to the huge rush of the vehicles, private as well as commercial. These people say that only a negligible part of the roads in their area is macadamized and covering short distances takes hours along.
Residents of the village Nasarullahpora which is hardly three kilometres from the district headquarter say that their village is the most neglected village of the constituency.
"We are deliberately being targeted on the developmental front as everything in our village is old fashioned. There are frequent power cuts and nobody comes forward to address the problem we have been facing," said some villagers while talking to Early Times.
The problems faced by the people of Daharmunah and adjacent villages are many but the most worrying issue for the people of the area is that their paddy fields remain waterlogged for the most part of the year as the flood channel directly enters into the wetland.
"There is always a threat that the water will enter the paddy fields even on account of negligible rainfall because the flood channel directly enters into our paddy fields. Some of the last harvesting seasons have been very tough for us as our paddy fields remained waterlogged subjecting the peasants to immense loses," said Abdul Aziz from Daharmunah.
Aziz went on saying that people of the area pleaded many times before the authorities that there should be a flood channel from Hajibagh to Narbal so that the flood channel does not open into the wetland and cause harm to their paddy fields but the problem still remains unattended.
Syed Showkat from Soibugh said that the Budgam constituency is known for one reason all over the valley that it has become the safe haven for the brick kiln mafia. As per Showkat it has taken a heavy toll on the agriculture land and also, it has invited a huge rush of tippers from all over the valley giving very anxious moments to the residents. |
