Lone Yassir Rashid
Marwah, a newly carved sub-Division of District Kishtwar J&K, is a well known destination in this State. This Sub-District is one over an of the largest administrative entity not only in District Kishtwar but in J&K State having more than forty thousand population and scattered area right from gateway Karoor (Dachhan) to Sukhnai (Warwan). The entire valley presents panoramic view in every facet. So, Marwah is rightly called as “The Valley of Peace & Statuesque or Switzerland of Jammu or Chotta Kashmir.”
Marwah –a seat of Sub-Division Magistrate (SDM) comprises three tehsils Dachhan, Marwah & Warwan. Five Niabats, three Blocks, twenty-eight Panchayats etc.
Marwah is backward mainly due to absence of a motorable road connectivity. Villagers desperately need link road from Dangdroo (Dachhan) to Nowpachi (Marwah). Second, road link constructed recently from Gowran (Anantnag) to Nowpachi Marwah is a seasonal and narrow road though people had demanded further upgradation of the said road. The dwellers here have urged upon Govt to construct motorable road via Dachhan to cater overall need of road connectivity. But due to a conspiracy hatched by vested interests, the road connectivity viz Dachhan is now a dream only & legislators pleaded differently. In last District Development Board meeting headed by former Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed ordered for feasibility of road link to this uncovered area. But, the same remained mere announcement as no survey has been conducted so far. Though Govt tried to connect said area with district headquarter via Sinthan-Margan Top but said connectivity works only for 3 or 4 months only. During last two consecutive years, a number of precious lives were lost. Such incidents are inevitable till concrete construction of motorable road link is possible.
Tourism sector has great potential here. But, unfortunately no comprehensive action plan has been mooted by successive Government to explore hidden beauty. This can be gauged from this fact that no Tourism Development Authority has been created here, in order to attract tourists. Detailed survey should be conducted to explore all such destinations of great potential to fascinate nature lovers.
Marwah, the name mentioned in Rig Veda, derived its name word “MARIEV” means Continuous flow of River. This river has great potential of hydro-electric power generating capacity. But people here are still utilizing primitive kind of lighting devices. Although river Mardsudhar flows through this power harnessing hub via Mard from Warwan valley and Sudhar from Sudhar village of Marwah, both these join at base point Nowpachi popularly known as “MARDSUDHAR”, which later on associates with a river coming from Padder at Bhanderkoot Kishtwar. The estimated power generating capacity of Chenab river is over 20,000 Megawatts. Out of which nearly 20-30% could be harnessed from river Mardsudhar of Marwah alone. Time to time survey pertaining establishment of the power project were conducted. Yet no results have come out. The need is to explore all options of power generating projects in order to become self reliant in this important sector.
The Education Sector is also facing great problems here. Govt opened numerous schools under different State and Centre Sponsored Schemes, but all are lacking basic amenities. However, quality of education is absolutely nill. It is observed that teachers do not report daily for their duties. Some demands of teachers are genuine. They assert that they are compelled to teach subject in which they have no degrees. The concerned authority should check and balance such practices at grossroot level to avert mess in Education Department. The rationalization of teacher student ratio is nowhere in sight. Temporary provisions are made to run routine school affairs. Funds under different flagship programmes of Education Department should be used judiciously to register aims & objectives of defined schemes. The Govt Degree College in the area too is no better than Primary school. There is need to check record of said college to determine its nature.
The Agriculture sector is also in shambles. Almost 95% inhabitants directly survive upon agriculture and allied fields like Horticulture, Animal & Sheep Husbandry, and Apiculture etc. All of said organs of Agriculture have exquisite presence in Marwah. But the Govt has done nothing to revamp such sectors. If Govt takes cognizance of such a vital sector, tremendous jobs could be generated by engaging local youth.
There is urgent need to pay attention to this area, otherwise it will continue to remain underdeveloped backward and neglected area.
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