Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Saturday took exception to “administrative apathy” on the ground in wake of the heavy snowfall across Kashmir.
In a joint statement released from the party headquarters Nawa-e-Subha, Srinagar, Senior party leaders Abdul Rahim Rather, and Nazir Ahmed Khan Gurezi asked the administration to ensure snow clearance on major and minor inter and intra-district arterials on a priority basis.
“Usually concerned departments would hire contractors to clear snow from roads. It seems that this snowfall has caught the government napping with the result that the entire population of far-flung villages in North, South, and Central Kashmir are suffering. Initiating snow clearance from far-flung areas and upper reaches of Kashmir division under the Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Act, (MGNREGA) besides ensuring early snow clearance, will also provide job opportunities to scores of people in these hinterland areas,” they said.
They urged the incumbent administration to take stock of the situation in far-flung areas and ensure people all effective and basic amenities. “The pesky electricity supply and unsteady water supply have aggravated the people in plains as well as the upper reaches of both Kashmir and Jammu divisions. The stock situation in the higher reaches of Bandipora, Budgam, and other areas should be reviewed,” the senior party leaders said.
“Electricity in many parts of Kashmir is playing hide and seek with consumers. At various places, people are reeling under darkness. Shortage of edibles and other household merchandise has added to the mounting woes of people across Kashmir,” they added urging the incumbent administration to take stock of the situation in far-flung areas and ensure replenishing of ration stocks in far-flung areas.
