Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Apr 18: Though it may sound incredible it is a fact that even after 65 years of independence Kandel hamlet which is only 15 kilometres away from Udhampur township is without power supply.
The successive Governments right from 1947 after the installation of first democratic Government in the State have failed to electrify this hamlet inhibited by a population of 700 people mostly belonging to Scheduled Tribe community.
“Our two generations have passed away in making trips from one office to another office meeting concerned Ministers, Deputy Commissioners, Chief Engineers of Power Development Department (PDD) and other officers since then but to no avail said Salim Gujjar a local resident.
The Government is making tall claims electrifying the far flung and remote areas but our hamlet which is just 15 kilometers away from Udhampur town and 2.50 kilometers from historical Krimchi village still reels under darkness.
“Our two generations have passed with the hope that the day will not be away when the area is electrified but their dream has not been fulfilled till date” said Alim Din, another resident. This is not a new habitation which has come into being in last one or two decades but our forefathers have been residents of this area who were cultivating land and raring cattle and sheep to feed themselves from decades together, he added.
All the surrounding hamlets of Kandel village have been electrified except this tiny hamlet for reasons best known to the authorities, he said, adding though the Government is making claims of entering into 21 century with lot of progress in all fields but how can the residents of Kandel hamlet accept the same when they have been deprived of the basic facilities of the life since 1947.
The State might have progressed but for the villagers of Kandel situation has not changed for better as the dawn of democracy has failed to bring cheers on their faces till date. “Our children are unable to seek education as they can’t read during night hours”, said Nissar Ali a Bakerwal. “But there is no body to hear our woes as we have now become exhausted in visiting the Government offices and Civil Secretariat”, he added.
He said though there are three Ministers from Gujjar community in the Council of Ministers but they too have failed to provide justice to this hamlet of STs which has been completely neglected in all spheres of development.
He said besides the power supply there is no road connectivity to the village as authorities failed to construct 2.50 kms road linking the hamlet with Krimchi and 1.50 kilometres from Gund.
“Every party comes to seek vote from us but when it comes to solution of problems they turn a deaf ear, he said, adding there are 450 registered voters in the village and during the elections every party as well as independent candidates visit there for campaigning and making tall claims but later they never show their face.
However, when contacted Minister of State (MoS) for Power, Vikar Rasool said that there were many villages without electrification in the State while maximum of them were electrified in first phase of RGGBY the remaining all will be covered in second phase of the Yojna.
He said the DPRs for all such rural areas have been completed and in the next phase the village will be electrified.
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