Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Sept 19: The State Government has failed to construct the flats and other infrastructure for migrant Pandits at Vessu area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district due to extremely slow work pace and scarcity of funds.
In Vessu transitory accommodation, the migrant Kashmiri Pandits expressed resentment over Government’s failure to provide them better accommodation facilities. They said out of 512 proposed flats, the Government managed to complete three flats only which reflect its seriousness over rehabilitation of the Pandits. At least 200 dilapidated pre-fabricated huts houses, more than 350 migrant families at Vessu whose living conditions are poor as multiple families share one quarter.
Officials of Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) said that to improve the infrastructure of the accommodation, Government proposed Rs 150 crore project, which was supposed to be completed in one year. They said the project included construction of a health care centre, school, shopping mall and installation of a sewage treatment plant. “It was a well thought-out project and would have addressed all the demands of the residents but then you need money to deliver on the promises,” said an official.
Sanjay Koul, who is president of Vessu Transit Camp, alleged that Government has pushed them into ghettos that were unsuitable for the humans. “Even the late Chief Minister, Mufti Mohamamd Sayed termed it unfit for living during his visit to the camp,” he said, adding: “Government’s lackadaisical approach towards the Pandit community has left them dejected.” He said the Government has “deceived” them as none of their demands were met.
Koul said the camp lacked basic amenities like proper healthcare and access to education. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi said they will build a small city for Pandits in his speech last year. However, nothing has been done. CM Mehbooba Mufti announced model school in our colony, but nothing has been done on the ground,” he rued.
Suresh Bazaz, a resident of the colony, said the Government has divided him from his family as lack of space forced other members to stay at Jammu. “Our parents and children live outside. For seven years, we are suffering living away from our loved ones. If the Government really want to rehabilitate us, then they should bring back our families,” he demanded.
When contacted, the JKPCC General Manager Zahoor Ahmad said the paucity of funds and the unrest of 2016 delayed the completion of the project. “The fund flow was unexpected and the lack of funds delayed the project. Further, the unrest of 2016 further delayed the project as we lost nearly six working months,” he said. The official said during the unrest of 2016, all the non-local labourers left the Valley and only half of the labourers returned.
He said the dearth of laborers dented the project badly. “50 percent of the laborers who were working with us went to Nepal. Now, we have sorted all the issues and the first phase of the project will be completed by the end of November and the second phase will be immediately taken up,” he said.
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