Gopal Sharma
Like most of the other Assembly constituencies of the State, majority of the public issues have remained the same in Poonch-Haveli constituency even after the passage of nearly six years of present regime. The public feels that despite efforts of young National Conference MLA, Ajaz Ahmed Jan from this mountainous constituency, majority of the burning issues have remained same mainly in rural belt and no much respite has been accorded to the people. But at the same time, the people of Poonch city had some appreciation for the MLA for having improved roads, lanes besides initiating some major projects like Mini-Secretariat and much needed sports stadium.
This is an important constituency of Jammu region, represented by young NC legislator junior Jan, son of former MLA Late G M Jan, a highly respected and popular leader. Senior Jan represented this constituency from 1996 onwards and then got elected again in 2002. After the death of G M Jan in 2007, this constituency was briefly represented by Jahangir Hussain Mir of Congress who got elected in Bye-election. In 2008 elections, Ajaz Jan was given the mandate by the party leadership and he emerged winner with strong public support. Sympathy wave is said to be the main factor behind major success of junior Jan in the last Assembly elections. Jan had secured 28,297 votes (40 %) and he defeated Ch Bashir Ahmed Naz of Congress who bagged 18,364 votes (26 %). The PDP candidate Imtiaz Ahmed Bandey remained at third place with 11,950 ( 17 %) votes. BJP’s Pardeep Sharma had got only 6980 ( 10%) votes. This constituency has total 62 Panchayats, out of which 32 fall in Haveli block and 30 in Mandi.
Originally hailing from remote Saujian area of Mandi block, Jan even failed to lay much focus on the main issues of people of his home pocket and resolve their burning issues. Most of them are not happy with their representative for certain reasons. People from Loran area of Mandi feel totally deprived of many facilities while dilapidated condition of this road is the worst victim of Government apathy and neglect on the part of MLA. It could not be improved despite the fact that local leader Bashir Naz from Congress also belonged to this area. The PDP candidate, Shah Mohd Tantray also belonged to Loran area.
Excelsior team had an extensive survey of this constituency and talked to cross section of people from entire constituency and sought public opinion about their MLA, the promises made by him and works accomplished during his tenure. Irrespective of their political affiliation, many people gave their independent views and highlighted the issues of public interest. Once an important principality of the region, the heritage of this historical city has been in shambles and no much efforts were made to maintain the pristine glory of Poonch Fort and the `Moti Mahal.’ Most of the roads maintained by PWD are in bad condition while shortage of electricity, drinking water, poor health care facilities, acute shortage of ration and kerosene oil are the major issues which still exist.
A population of about 2000 souls from remote Rajpura, Baila Mandi, Trishal and Barnote area of Mandi tehsil is feeling victimised as they have been connected with the Surankote constituency. They have alleged a political conspiracy behind this gimmick. They alleged that Mandi tehsil headquarters is just 5 to 8 kms from these about half a dozen villages while they will have to cover nearly 45 kms of distance to reach Surankote for their many works. Not only this, some localities of Mandi town fall in Surankote constituency. The people of this area are agitating to get restored the old status but no body listens to them. They met MLA and several Ministers but their problem has remained unresolved. They alleged that it was done by NC leadership deliberately as part of conspiracy. Mohd Sayeed from this village alleged that people boycotted recently held Lok Sabha elections and they have again decided to boycott coming Assembly elections if the Government failed to do justice with them.
People from Palera, Lahel Bela, Markot, Chikhri, Marachad and Bun Panchayats have alleged severe shortage of ration and kerosene oil. Ghulam Mohd and Mohd Sharief elderly villagers from the area alleged that they get hardly fifty percent of the ration quota and that too, after 20th of every month. They have to mainly depend on ration from local shops. The sugar quota is hardly available in 2 to 3 months. Kerosene oil is not available and if the quota comes it goes to the `black’ as most of the local vehicles were running on kerosene oil instead of diesel. One Mohd Ali maintained that for the population of nearly 10,000 souls there is only one Ration depot at Palera. People have to cover 5 to 7 kms on foot to get ration and Kerosene oil. At least three depots are needed for this population. He also said that power supply to many morhas in the area was not available. People are suffering for want of foot bridges. Teachers hardly visit the schools and NREGA payments are not made to the workers for months. Only some Sarpanchs or RDD officials withdraw amount on behalf of innocent workers and distribute the `booty’. Many Sarpanchs even keep job cards with them and give money to the workers at their sweet will, he maintained.
Exposing NREGA style of functioning, one Haji Abdul Hamid of Loran said that he initiated work to construct a retaining wall (Danga) at Khet. He spent Rs 26,000 on the work engaging local labourers. The RDD officials charged Rs 5000 as advance commission. A payment of only Rs 11,000 was made while rest of the amount they retained with them and never paid. Under such circumstances who will work under NREGA. The poor workers are not paid for years and BDO has failed to do justice with them. The system is very corrupt and NREGA is only for RDD officials, Panchayat secretary and Sarpanchs, he maintained.
Ex-Sarpanch Haji Akram, a disclosed that Loran in Poonch located at great height in Pir Panjal Ranges, was once old route to Kashmir via Sultan Pathri and Rajtrangani during Maharajas times. From this area after covering distance on foot for four hours, one can reach Gulmarg (Kashmir). Kalahan, a great writer on Kashmir had also mentioned about Rajtrangani in his book. There was an old Sarai at Rajtrangani village which is near Sultan Pathri. The ruins are still seen there. A tunnel at Sultan Pathri can ensure all weather road to Kashmir and it is the strong demand of the people of Loran and entire Mandi block. Haji said there was a proposal to connect Kashmir via Loran and Gulmarg during late seventies but the project was shelved due to vested interests. The distance of Gulmarg is hardly 30 kms. He said this could have been a shortest route to Kashmir via Mandi-Loran from Poonch. He strongly pleaded for yet another route to Kashmir via Sultan Pathri. The road up to Sultan Pathri was motorable. This entire road from Mandi is needed to be upgraded and improved. Its condition is worst and Matador and bus operators avoid to ply vehicles in view of road condition. He said condition of lanes and drains was bad. There was no adequate water and power supply and poles were not installed at many locations. The wires are tied on trees posing risk to the people. There are nearly 10,000 voters in the area and the population was over 22,000 in five adjoining Panchayats. The road was constructed in 1960-65 but it was not upgraded. Seeds and fertilizers is not available. There is great scope of fruit but there is no support to the growers/ farmers from Horticulture Department.
Ashraf Shaheen from Loran said that there is strong resentment among public against sitting MLA Poonch as he did not visit the area since long. He is not bothered about the development of the area. He said many Govt schools including GMS Kunja, Kharpa, Middle School Bund, Danna are facing shortage of staff. Shaheen said there were around 15 seasonal schools in the area and their teachers are without salary for last one year. He said there is local PHC and it has three doctors and an ambulance but there is still shortage of other staff and medicines. Recently a grid station was set up and a little improvement in power in the town was witnessed. Primary School Kayala is without building while water pipes were laid at this village and Bela Balla, Tantrian and Kayala but no water supply was ensured. Din Mohd of Danna in Loran said that no NREGA works payment was provided to the workers for the last two years. Only those close to Sarpanch or MLA get it. There are no toilets in High Schools or Middle Schools of the area. APL / BPL supply of ration was not provided for the last 2-3 months. Shah Mohd and Abdul Ghani from Loran, and Javed Iqbal from Bella Bhalla graded performance of MLA as below par and said that he has totally neglected this belt. The people have made up their mind for a change this time. They said at Oripura Danna there were no poles of LT and cables are laid along trees. There is risk to the public life.
One Bashir Ahmed at Saujian in Mandi also depicted a negative picture of the area. He said the MLA belonged to this area but even then, not enough progress has been witnessed. He said Gagrian, Shole and Saujian area have five Panchayats. Only mini-buses come and no bus plies. Most of the staff in hospitals and schools have got attachments and they hardly visit. Being Model village no required infrastructure was developed. In Shole and Gagriyan Panchayats no NREGA payments were made to the workers. Ration is not available and power supply is also inadequate. There is Army Goodwill School at Saujian and it is doing very well. One Ghulam Qadir said that Gagrian A & B are last Panchyats along the LoC. People are mostly dependent on Army. Even their vehicles provide tanker water supply. People of Shole are facing water scarcity. At local PHC there are two doctors posted but one has got his attachment at Mandi and now only one comes. Condition of link roads is bad. One Bradi road was abandoned half way. Several PMGSY roads have also been abandoned from Saujian. Mohd Aslam and Mohd Hafeez told that NREGA scheme should be closed as money is only going to the pockets of RDD officials and middlemen like Sarpanchs and politicians. Workers are denied their share. Ration cards have not been issued to many villagers. Ration is not available to most of the population. Seven shops were gutted in December 2012 at Saujian market but no compensation was provided. They said a road is under construction from Saujian to Tangmarg in Kashmir via Gali and Anjan Pathri. He said from Saujian to Gali, 4 kms road is ready. The work on a bridge at Gali is nearing completion. Between Anjan Pathri and Dewar Gali work is on. Up to Dewar Gali bus service is already functional from Tangmarg side of Kashmir. Hardly 20-25 kms road is yet to be completed by BRO. There will be direct link to Kashmir from Poonch via Saujian, he added.
Ghulam Mohd at Mandi also projected problem of water shortage and power curtailment. He said supply of ration is inadequate and condition of link roads was worst in the surrounding areas. He also alleged that some area of Mandi town is worst victim of political conspiracy as nearly 2500 voters of the area have been connected with Surankote constituency. Two Panchayats of Baila Mandi and Rajpura have been connected with Surankote constituency. The public is badly suffering. One Ishtiaq Ahmed Bhat, a local resident also projected the grim picture of this belt and maintained that though half a dozen leaders including MLA belonged to this Mandi block but area has been facing many hardships. Condition of SDH Mandi is not good. No specialist doctor was available. Most of cases are referred to Poonch. Even delivery cases are not taken up for want of Gynecologist. CAPD supply is irregular. Many hamlets including Arai Malika are without power. In Primary and Middle schools teachers hardly go. In two local higher secondary schools many subject lecturers are not available and posts are lying vacant. This has affected the studies of the students, he added.
The people from Bandi Chechiyan, Salotri, Noora Bandi, Qasba, Nangali, Shahpur, Mandaar, Islamabad, Khanetar, Magnad, Chandak, Kalai, Sathra, Darra Dullian, Painch, Kannuiyan, Khari Karmara, Degwar, Gulpur, Ajot and Jallas Panchayats have also been facing similar problems. There is resentment and the people are generally not happy with the pace of progress and development in these pockets. They held MLA and the coalition Government responsible. They even spoke against the former MP Madan Lal and alleged that he also neglected the people of this area and not brought any development project to this constituency. Imtiaz Bandey from Bandi Chechiyan, who had contested last elections unsuccessfully described the pace of development very slow in the area. He said the condition of their road is good but education sector is badly hit. Teachers hardly go to schools and children suffer. Ration supply is inadequate. Some PMGSY roads were undertaken but many of them are still incomplete or left half way. People are worried as their NREGA payments are pending. Job cards have been snatched by the Sarpanchs and there is no accountability. There is no required infrastructure in Islamabad model village. There are nearly 15000 plus votes in nearly 10 Panchayats of the area but they are mostly not happy. There are total 62 Panchayats in Poonch Haveli out of which 32 are in Mandi block while rest 32 are in Haveli ( Poonch). MLC Shehnaz Ganai from NC also belonged to Azmabad in Mandi while Congress MLC Jehangir Mir too, hailed from Shella Dangri village in Mandi block. Ch Bashir Naz of Congress and PDP leader Shah Mohd Tantray also hailed from Loran area of Mandi. MLA Ajaz Jan is also from Saujian in Mandi. Mandi block always dominated politically the entire Poonch- Haveli constituency. The number of voters is over 50,000 in Haveli block including Poonch city, Bandey said.
In Poonch town, however, some people expressed satisfaction over the power and water supply besides the condition of roads and lanes. They said many lanes have been improved and covered with tiles with the initiative of MLA. The power supply is also better than any part of Jammu region. Curtailment is there but it is not much. Electricity is mostly available during night. Local citizens K K Kapoor, however, criticized the State Government and the local legislator for neglect of rich heritage of Poonch city which holds Fort building complex. He said some work has been initiated but pace of work is very slow. No sufficient funds are being provided for its restoration. Kapoor said water supply in some of the localities was not adequate while Education was running on adhoc system. Required subject teachers were not available in college and higher secondary schools of the area. Khori Nad Mohalla is suffering for want of water supply. H S Bedi lauded several contributions of the MLA but maintained that many works are yet to be executed. He said in city many lanes have been improved with laying tiles. But the condition of some link roads was not good and needed improvement. In some wards there was no proper street light and cleanliness in the city. One Ram Rattan said that there was great potential of small scale industry, horticulture and agriculture field in the district but nothing has been done in this field. Some land of Dashnami Akhada and other religious places were occupied by some Government departments to raise buildings illegally as a part of conspiracy recently.
MLA Poonch (Haveli), Ajaz Ahmed Jan when contacted said that he has initiated lot of development in his Haveli constituency during his last five years’ term. Jan claimed that he was satisfied with the pace of work and intended to enhance it further if voted to power again. Mr Jan said he got sanctioned Mini-Secretariat complex at Poonch with the cost of Rs 28 crore. The Government has released Rs 14 crore and the work was in progress. He said that emergency block of District hospital, Poonch which was damaged in earthquake in 2005, got additional funds worth Rs 7 crore sanctioned for the restoration in 2009 with his efforts. DC office damaged in the quake was also got reconstructed with the additional funds of Rs 4 crore. Mandi Tehsil complex got sanctioned and Rs 4 crore have been spent on it. The building is almost ready, he added.
Mr Jan said Mandi to Fagla and Bafliaz (Surankote) road got sanctioned under CRF and Rs 42 crore are being spent on it. Nearly, 50 % of the road has been completed and work is going on there. It will have direct link to Mughal road from Mandi. Many houses were damaged during earthquake in Poonch area and the people were provided timber on subsidized rates in 2009-10. New Agriculture complex with the cost of Rs 4 crore got sanctioned at Poonch and work is nearing completion. Poonch TRC was completed and tourism infrastructure is being raised at Nangali Sahib, Ziarat Illahi Baksh and Sain Mira Ziarat. Kalai-Mandi road has been upgraded facilitating Budha Amarnath pilgrims and other population.
Loran to Tangmarg road project under BADP has been taken up with the Centre and Rs 2 crore have been earmarked initially for alignment purpose. This will be shortest route to Kashmir via Sultanpathri. A tunnel has also been purposed and a project worth Rs 200 crore has been sent for this 32 kms road project to the Centre. The road from Mandi to Loran will be improved under PMGSY and project has been submitted. A Grid Station at Chandak was constructed with the cost of Rs 46 crore and with this power supply in entire Poonch has been improved. Under PMGSY 18 roads have been taken up and six got completed. 22 new primary schools were constructed and nearly 30 upgraded. Under RAMSA, eight school buildings were constructed, 3 dispensaries were constructed under NRHM, 20 new water supply schemes were taken up and six are complete. Nearly, 100 water hand pumps were got sanctioned. New Sports stadium at Poonch with the cost of Rs 4 crore got sanctioned and it is nearing completion. Work on University campus Poonch has been taken up and Rs 42 cr got sanctioned from UGC. New administrative block of Degree College Poonch got constructed with the cost of Rs 2.60 cr besides an examination hall. He said that restoration work on irrigation canals/ kools has been initiated and over 80 % of them have been restored.
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