Meer Irfan
Villagers of Nagahad Babapora, a Gujjar locality in South Kashmir’s Shopian district, have been struggling without access to drinking water and electricity for the past seven years, forcing them to live in dire conditions. Despite repeated pleas to authorities, their grievances remain unaddressed, prompting fresh appeals to the Deputy Commissioner Shopian and the local Member of Legislative Assembly for immediate intervention.
The affected villagers, mostly from the economically weaker Gujjar community, lament that their repeated representations to government officials have yielded no results. They allege that successive administrations have ignored their plight, leaving them to endure an existence devoid of basic necessities.
One of the most pressing concerns in Nagahad Babapora is the acute scarcity of drinking water. Residents claim that they are forced to fetch water from distant streams and springs, a practice fraught with difficulties, especially during the harsh winter months. The lack of a proper water supply has not only affected daily life but also raised serious health concerns due to the consumption of untreated water.
“We have been demanding a functional water supply scheme for years, but nothing has been done so far. Women and children walk several kilometers daily to fetch water, which is unsafe and often contaminated,” Abdul Rehman, a local resident told the news agency Kashmir News Trust.
Adding to their woes, Nagahad Babapora remains in darkness as the village has been without electricity for the past seven years. The absence of a power supply has severely impacted education, healthcare, and overall quality of life. Students struggle to study after sunset, and the lack of electricity has hampered access to modern communication and development opportunities.
“We are living in medieval times. Our children cannot study at night, and we are cut off from the rest of the world. It is disheartening that in this day and age, we are still deprived of electricity,” said another resident, Muhammad Yousuf.
Villagers claim that they have approached the concerned departments multiple times but have received only hollow assurances. They allege that officials conduct surveys and inspections but fail to implement any concrete solutions.
The villagers immediate action from the authorities to resolve their long-standing issues.“We have been patient for too long. If the administration continues to neglect us, we will be left with no choice but to take to the streets.” [KNT]