Waris Fayaz
Sopore, Jul 4: Four villages of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district are without mobile connectivity even two decades after the facility was introduced in the valley.
Marbal, Cherihar, Kawool and Pahiwar villages have remained untouched by the modern marvels of mobile connectivity, and are known for their serene landscapes, flourishing orchards, and close-knit communities. These villages are 35, 20, 22 & 35 kilometers away from the sub-division Sopore.
The residents of Marbal village said that when the world is witnessing 5G internet connectivity, their village is still craving a basic cellular network to make just a simple phone call.
“This lack of technological advancement has not only hindered our access to information but also impeded our overall development,” they said. “The students are facing difficulties in accessing educational resources; the farmers are struggling to connect with potential buyers for their produce, while the healthcare services are often inaccessible due to the lack of immediate communications.”
We approached the administration and requested mobile connectivity in our village; however, but to no avail, said Tariq Ahmed of Cherhar. He said the bureaucratic rule and the remoteness of the village have made it challenging for the government to promptly address their concerns.
“In this digital era, we are struggling for mobile network connectivity. This is keeping us away from several government-sponsored schemes which are aimed at uplifting the rural areas,” said Rubeena, a Sarpanch at Marbal, adding, “We have time and again filed applications at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in this regard but nothing has been done on the ground.”
Similarly, a group of students said they have to travel at least 12 kilometers away from Marbal to the Shiva area just to download their study-related materials or examination date sheets besides other important online documents.
The residents of these villages have reiterated their appeal to the administration to install mobile connectivity towers to “ease our miseries”.
Earlier in May, the cell phones at the tourist destination of Rampura in Sopore hills started ringing, following Deputy Commissioner Baramulla’s intervention. On November 8, 2022, DC Sehrish Asgar asked the telecom authorities to provide mobile connectivity to the uncovered rural areas of the district including the Rampura Rajpora hamlet.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Sopore, S A Raina said that they “will look into it”.
“Recently, the connectivity towers were installed in two places of Sopore’s higher reaches, thus connecting them with the mobile world. The same will be started in these villages soon,” the ADC said.
