More details of extensive damage done by recent heavy snowfall in the southern foothills of Pir Panchal, especially in areas of Poonch and Rajouri district have come in. Entire road connectivity, telecommunication, power and water supply system have collapsed. The region has plunged into darkness and isolation, remaining cut off for the fifth day. According to reports received, it is said that unless the 132 KV line and Grid Station Draba are repaired, supply of power to entire Poonch district cannot be restored. And when will these repairs take place is the real question because the road connectivity remains elusive. We learn that entire life in Poonch district as well as in parts of Rajouri and Mendhar has come to a standstill. People have brought out protest rallies against inability of the Government to reach them and restore power and water supply.
Actually the entire northern India was hit by a strong cold wave that sent people shivering. The plains of northern India experienced the lowest temperature and Jammu experienced the coldest day in last three decades. Naturally, the winter and the effect of the cold wave were too severe on hilly and snow bound areas. The entire state was in a perilous situation and disruption of normal life or collapse of communication system and road connectivity happened in major parts. Poonch and Mendhar and parts of Udhampur district, too, had their share of peril. They were hit hard.
It is observed that in such situations of emergency caused by natural calamity, the entire Government machinery gets geared to the needs of two capital cities and their adjoining areas. That is right and it should be like that, these being the premier cities. But then the districts should not suffer for the sake of the premier cities and areas. We have the district administration and then we have the proper coordination at higher levels. The administration cannot be negligent of crisis situation taking place anywhere in the State. Why is not the road connectivity between Rajouri and Poonch and Rajouri and Mendhar restored simultaneously with the restoration of Jammu-Srinagar link? Are we deficient of men and machine to clear these crucial and strategic links in shortest possible time? We don’t believe there is shortage of either men or equipment for delivery purposes. It is sheer negligence on the part of the Government and administration. Who does not know that the affected areas are all border areas to our west and most strategic in more than one way? It is a sad commentary on our border security planning that the areas get isolated for days at end owing to some natural abnormality. We need not be told again and again that this is hilly and mountainous area and we have to be ready to face such eventualities. Where is our readiness and where is our response? It is nowhere in sight. It is unfortunate that despite full realization about the sensitivity of these border areas from where we have maximum threat of infiltration by external subversives, and despite six decades of independence we don’t have all weather connectivity between Rajouri and Poonch. We have tunneled the Pir Panchal for connectivity to the valley but we have not planned connectivity across Bhimber Gali and Jaran Gali. Since a long time we have been told that rail link between Jammu and Poonch is under consideration. Leave aside the rail link we are not able to negotiate the one simple BG. Past history tells us that the people of Poonch, Rajouri and Mendhar have suffered in many ways. They have made many sacrifices. They do not deserve scurvy treatment. It is time that the Government changes its mindset about the interests of the people of this very crucial border area whose every inch is shrouded in history. A joint high-power team of road, power and telecom experts should be constituted to make survey of our western border links and suggest improvement of the Highway and services. This has to be security-related project and special grants should be proposed for it. Simultaneously, the project of bringing railway to Poonch should also be considered on priority basis. This infrastructure is the pre-requisite for developing industries in the region that would provide employment and generate economy of the entire region. The step-motherly treatment meted out to these districts should come to an end. This could be an alert for the elected representative of the area as well.
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