Raja Syed Rather
Ganderbal, Mar 13: People living in Thekri Pati, Mamaar in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district say their lives have become “miserable” due to a lack of basic facilities.
The village is located on a hilltop along the Srinagar-Leh highway and has remained undeveloped due to the non-availability of an approach road.
The people of the area said that they have to use footway to reach the main road which is very difficult for them. “We face immense difficulties to reach the main road, especially in times of medical emergencies and bad weather,” they said.
Since the majority of the villagers here live below the poverty line, they have availed of Prime Minister’s Awas Yojna Gramin (PMAYG), a Centrally-sponsored scheme that was introduced with an aim to create housing for all.
However, due to the non-availability of the road, they are unable to construct houses. “Without the road, the construction material becomes costly,” they said, adding, “Besides, in case of fire incidents, there is no way for fire tenders, which is also a grave concern for us.”
Though the village lacks other basic facilities including health and education, their basic demand is the construction of an approach road which they say “will be the key for any development in the area”.
The villagers have appealed to the LG administration to take note of their plight and mitigate their sufferings.
