Work on electrification, all-weather road underway, claims MLA
Sanjeev K Sharma
JAMMU/KISHTWAR, Feb 8: As the weather turns pleasant in most parts of Jammu and Kashmir, the lofty mountains in remote Himalayan region of Kishtwar are now snow-clad and the scenic valleys of Warwan and Marwah have been cut off from other parts of the Union Territory as far as the road connectivity is concerned and the locals claim that the road transport will remain snapped for about six months due to the recent heavy snowfall.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
“Before the onset of cut-off period, we ensure sufficient stocking of essentials like wheat, rice, firewood, fodder for the cattle etc for consumption during these months,” a local of Warwan informed adding: “Schools in these remote areas observe vacations and remain closed during the cut-off months.”
He also said that a few well off people from Warwan and Marwah take their children to places like Kashmir, Jammu etc for studies at tutorials during these extreme cold days.
One more local of the area said that before the cut-off period, many men from these remote areas visit other States to work there as labourers.
“In this era of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and also after more than 78 years of independence of the country, our Warwan and Marwah areas are yet to be electrified,” Bilal Yousuf Lone, 28, from Dryan village in Warwan informed adding that solar powered bulbs light the area and the telephone services have touched these remote areas only the last year.
He also claimed that medical-health services in the region are only for namesake and if someone gets critically ill, airlifting using helicopter services to some better place remains the only solution.
“For the last 10 days the heli-services were also non-functional in the area and these are now expected to resume in a day or two,” Lone further said informing that in the absence of proper medical facilities, many women in Warwan-Marwah areas have died in the last 3-4 years during their deliveries.
However, many locals informed that the area is militancy free at present though there were incidents of terrorism two decades back.
Mohd Ramzan, 49, from Marwah informed that these areas will remain cut-off till April due to frequent snowfall and the sunshine remains rare as the sky mostly remains cloudy.
“Warwan-Marwah has a combined population of about 40,000 and both are separate tehsils. During the cut-off period, vehicles in these areas ply on internal-roads, market opens, other offices function normally and most of the internal business remains as usual but water freezes in the supply pipes,” he further said adding during emergency, they use helicopter services to reach Kishtwar and the district administration fully cooperates with them in tough times.
Ramzan further said: “Though these remote areas are enriched by the natural beauty with several rivulets, mountains, forests, cloudy weather etc, but the fear from wild animals, especially from the bear, remains there among the locals as the beast has attacked domestic animals in these areas many times.”
“Warwan-Marwah remains cut off for three months due to heavy snowfall and helicopter is used to travel during this period but it takes off only if weather remains fair,” informed the elected public representative from the area, MLA Payare Lal Sharma.
He also said that work on the all-weather ‘Khala Blakwandi-Lopara road was underway and two bridges are still to be made on this road and it will take about a year to make the road fully functional after which the area will have road connectivity throughout the year.
“People of this area are mostly poor and there is no project working here due to which the people have to go out for work,” the MLA maintained adding that only 50 per cent medical facilities in the area are functional.
On electrifying the area, he said that the work was underway to ensure proper electricity in the area and the same will be completed within a year.
“The government has given Rs. 82 crore for this while eight roads have also been sanctioned for the region, Sharma further said.
“As it is a far flung area, doctors are not ready to come here but after two months from now, about 80 per cent shortage of doctors will be met,” the MLA further said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
