Jahangeer Ganaie
Bijbehara, Jun 13: Scores of residents from Marhama village in Bijbehara area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district staged a protest on Friday, demanding immediate attention towards the basic infrastructural needs of the area, including proper electricity, drinking water, irrigation facilities and healthcare services.
Chanting slogans, the protesting villagers assembled in main Marhama locality and urged authorities to wake up from what they termed as a “deep slumber” and fulfill their long-pending demands.
A local resident said, “Just few mohallas of our village have been receiving proper power supply while rest are being neglected and no attention is being given towards them.”
He said that if the whole village pays the same fee then why some areas are witnessing step motherly treatment.
Residents also complained about the lack of potable water. “We are forced to fetch unclean water from a nearby stream. This poses serious health threats, especially for children and elderly.”
Locals said that a water supply scheme was constructed in the area years before, but it was unable to cater to the whole village that consists of over 18000 people.
Being a predominantly agrarian village, Marhama residents also voiced concern over poor irrigation facilities. “We depend on agriculture for livelihood, but without a proper irrigation system, our fields remain dry during crucial months. Canals are choked or broken and lift irrigation pumps don’t work,” said Ghulam Mohammad, a farmer.
He said that Awantipora canal passes through the village that is providing water to over 20 villages but not to this village.
The villagers also lamented the absence of a proper healthcare facility in the area, adding that the staff has been drawing salary from PHC Marhama but have been posted at other places.
In absence of technicians various machines are lying defunct at the centre even as a gynaecologist was posted in PHC Marhama, who has been attached to SDH Bijbehara, thus leaving locals to lurch at large.
The protestors appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag and concerned departments to intervene into the matter and take necessary steps to improve infrastructure and provide relief to the neglected population of Marhama.
