Border residents in Kashmir demand better roads, play fields

Uri, Feb 18: As the guns have fallen silent along the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the residents now demand better road connectivity, play fields and better infrastructure of government schools.
Earlier, the border residents were demanding community bunkers but with the improvement in situation, they are now demanding better roads, repair of government buildings and residential houses besides upgradation of sports infrastructure.
Locals of Uri area of northern district of Baramulla, complained that the roads, government buildings, and residential houses are in shambles while there is a dire need of upgrading the sports infrastructure.
“The road stretches at Dardkote in Uri are dotted with potholes which speaks volumes about the tall claims of the government of improving road connectivity,” the residents said. “The road is dotted with huge potholes and has not been repaired for the last several years and the authorities concerned are least bothered about the sufferings of people”, said Faisal Khan, a Sarpanch. “The road acts as an important link which connects several areas and thousands of commuters, transporters pass through potholes every day. “The road is in a bad condition. Big pot holes filled with water dots, making the movement of people very difficult.”
The residents expressed concern over the condition of government schools. “Four classes are functioning in a single room at Dardkote,” they said, adding that similar conditions are in maximum government based schools”.
The administration makes tall claims about changing the sports infrastructure at the best, but the areas like Uroosa, Dardkote, Chakra, Isham, Nawa Runda and Govalta in Uri are without a single playground.
The villagers, particularly youth, said that no space is available in their villages for playing sports. “We have appealed and requested the concerned officials several times to demarcate a piece of land for the playground but to no avail. “We are leading a confined life which is taking a heavy toll on our mental and physical health,” they added.
The residents, however, urged the LG administration and the concerned authorities to look into the genuine demands of people, so that they could have a sigh of relief. (KNO)