Waseem Ahmad
SRINAGAR: One of the historic places of Srinagar, known for shrines and historic Jamia Masjid, Khanyar constituency has a heritage value but people here complained lack of facilities.
The constituency comprised of areas like Rainawari, Khanyar, Nowhatta, Khawaja Bazar and Nowpora. The constituency is the stronghold of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) which won eight Assembly elections since 1957 in a row. Ali Mohammad Sagar of JKNC won the 2014 Assembly elections for the fourth consecutive time. He defeated Mohammad Khurshid Alam of PDP in last elections. Sagar polled 6505 votes as against Alam’s 5338 votes.
Although the residents of some of the areas claim development but several areas have been neglected and people said they are skeptical whether they belong to Khanyar constituency or any other.
The residents of several areas of Khanyar constituency are facing identical problems including congested and dilapidated roads, no better healthcare facilities, no street lights, defunct drainage system, no Fire and Emergency Station etc.
As per the residents of the various areas of the constituency, the road widening project of most of the roads in Khanyar have not been initiated till date as a result commuters are often stuck in traffic jams. “The road widening is a long pending demand of the people of Khanyar. There were various road widening projects on cards but till date no project was initiated. Due to congestion on the roads, commuters are often stuck in traffic jams,” Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of Khanyar said.
He said various road widening projects that have not been initiated include Mamta Junction to Khanyar Chowk, Koolipora towards Baba Dawood Khaki bridge, Khanyar to Dastageer Sahib shrine up to Khawaja Bazar and Nowpora bridge towards Miskeen Bagh up to Surteng.
The residents also complained that the main Khanyar has defunct drainage system. They said the drains do not have bearing capacity and most of the main as well as inner roads are submerged in knee deep waters after rains. “Khanyar has defunct drainage system. Although there are drains but they lack bearing capacity. The areas from Khanyar Chowk towards Kaw Mohalla and other areas including Khalipora, Koolipora and victory crossing are submerged in knee deep waters after the rains because of the defunct drainage system,” Mohammad Yaseen, another resident of Khanyar said.
The Khanyar residents said that most of the areas in the constituency do not have street lights as a result the areas remain under darkness as Sun sets. “There are no street lights in several areas of the constituency. It becomes very difficult for the people to go out for prayers in darkness. Street lights have not been installed in Khanyar up to Nowhatta area and towards Bohrikadal as well,” Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Malaratta said.
He also said that the macadamization of the roads have not been taken place since a long time. “Some roads were macadamized but several inner roads have not been macadamized for years. The roads are in dilapidated condition and are full of potholes. The areas include Malaratta, Nowhatta, Bohrikadal, Zainakadal, Babademb, Koolipora etc,” he added
The residents of Khanyar also complained that there is no degree college in the constituency and several schools are in need of up-gradation. Besides, they said there is no Fire station available from Dalagate to Nowhatta and any untoward incident of fire can prove fatal.
They also said that the constituency lacks community halls and they have to face hardships at the time of marriages and deaths. “Almost whole constituency is congested and there is hardly any open space left. We have to face immense hardships and whenever there is any function in the area. There is a dire need of community halls in the constituency,” Bilal Ahmad Dar, a resident of Khanyar said.
The residents of Qamangar Pora complained that they are still skeptical about which constituency they belong as during the time of elections, everybody owns us and after that nobody address our issues. “We belong to Khanyar constituency but when it comes to addressing our issues, we are told that you do not belong to this constituency. Even the concerned MLA never visited our area,” Shabir Ahmad, a Qamangar Pora resident said
He complained that the area lacked proper drainage system, macadamized roads, street lights, marriage hall facilities etc.
Another resident of the area, Gulzar Wani said that there are no hospital facilities and the only dispensary in the area lacks facilities. “The area lacks healthcare facilities. There is a dispensary in the area but it lacks facilities and have not been up-graded since it was thrown open decades ago,” he said
He further said that several deserved residents of the area are not provided Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards due to which they have to face hardships.
The residents of Baba Demb area also complained that the main roads as well as inner roads are in dilapidated condition and full of potholes. “The main road of the Babademb form Barbarshah towards Khanyar is in dilapidated condition. The road is full of potholes and has not been macadamized due to which commuters have to suffer. Besides, the lanes and by-lanes are also in bad condition,” Zubair Ahmad, a resident of Babademb said.
The residents of Brari Nambal are concerned over Brari Nambal lagoon as the inordinate delay in launching conservation measures to restore its glory has pushed the water body on the verge of extinction.
They said in absence of sustained conservation measures, the lagoon has turned into a cesspool. “Brari Nambal lagoon is the most polluted linkage of Dal lake and is on the verge of extinction. Several years have passed since the Government announced conservation measures to restore the lagoon but there seems to be no progress made so far. No steps are being taken to restore the lost glory of it,” Mohammad Ibrahim, a resident said.
Ex-MLA Khanyar, Ali Mohammad Sagar, was contacted by this reporter and despite several visits to his office, he had no time to share his views on the developmental works and problems faced by the people of the constituency.
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