Bandipora, Dec 18 (KNO): The villagers of Nunbal at upper-belt of Onagam area in North Kashmir's Bandipora district complained of being forced to live in darkness for the last seven decades despite the availability of electricity poles in the area.
The villagers comprising of 25 families mostly from the backward community told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that they have been facing multiple problems in absence of electricity for the last seven decades while officials don’t even bother to visit the village to acknowledge their genuine demands.
The locals that they have made numerous representations to successive governments for electrifying the village but to no avail.
"Since the time I was born I have not seen electricity in my village. Everyone comes here for their own benefits. They are not willing to do anything for the development here," 45-year-old Khursheed Ahmad said.
"When we get to see electricity in our village. This is very unfortunate that in today’s world the village is suffering for want of electricity,” he said. “Our village is far, and we cannot even protest. Who will listen to us from here.”
Another resident Hakeem Mohammad said that most of the villagers have migrated to other areas for a better future of their children, but others are living a tough life.
"We have raised our children in darkness. Their next generation will also be forced to grow up in darkness,” he said.
Students in the village are the worst sufferers due to non-availability of electricity.
"Our kids are forced to study under lanterns. Even for that, they face hardships, as there is not enough supply of kerosene in the region. We then burn woods for the light," a local resident Ashraf Dar said.
Dar claims that he has not seen electricity in his village since India's Independence.
"The government had installed electricity poles here but it is not known what happened to them. They left the work half-way," he said.
Meanwhile, villagers urged the LT Governor led administration to look into the matter as early as possible and solve the power crises in the village—(KNO)