Langate, July 26 (KNO) : Urging government not to deprive people of far-flung areas of basic amenities, Peoples United Front (PUF) leader and AIP President Er Rasheed Friday sought immediate attention of the government to compensate the farmers in Langate, Kupwara, Handwara and Lolab areas, whose crops have been damaged by inundated floods and hailstorm during last few weeks.
While visiting various villages during his two-day tour, Er Rasheed as per a statement issued to KNO interacted with people and took stock of public issues.
Er Rasheed also visited Dardpora, Gagal and Harden villages of Lolab area to express his sympathies with the three families, whose kins lost their lives in three separate incidents during natural calamities. He expressed his displeasure towards administration for not paying any ex-gratia to the families of victims.
Interacting with people, Er Rasheed demanded release of balance funds against various ongoing developmental works in district Kupwara. “Governor Administration must realize that entire Kupwara being a far-flung district needs special care and timely funding. District administration must discharge its duties with keen interest and honesty as it is difficult for common masses to reach the civil secretariat for the redressal of their grievances,” he said.
Er Rasheed demanded a special package for farmers and fruit growers whose property has been badly damaged due to recent floods and continuous hailstorm. “It makes no difference if government officials just visit the affected areas and create the hope but all this ends at nothing except fake assurances. State government must allocate proper funds to compensate victims of natural calamities,” he said.
“It is a harsh reality that entire Kupwara has already been suffering since past 30 years due to ongoing violence and uprising in the state and people in most of the areas face huge difficulties even to get basic amenities. While schools and hospitals are lacking adequate staff, rest of the departments’ especially Rural Development Department and PDD become almost defunct for one reason or the other,” he added.
Er Rasheed accused successive governments of using Kupwara district simply as a vote bank and then stabbing the entire population by not doing anything concrete for the uplifting of this border district. He urged Union Government to take measures immediately to provide four-lane connectivity from Srinagar to Kupwara and sought extending of Rail link to Kupwara.
Er Rasheed further added that if in other remote areas new districts can be created making geography and topography as the criteria, why Handwara cannot be given status of a district having vast scattered population. He also demanded colleges for women in Langate, Handwara and Lolab and establishing of a nursing college at Haril.(KNO)