Waseem Ahmad
HAZRATBAL: The Hazratbal Assembly constituency over the years has seen some progress in development but several major projects, including beautification of Hazratbal shrine, are incomplete leading to suffering of the people.
The Hazratbal Assembly segment is a part of Srinagar Parliamentary constituency. It has always remained strong hold of National Conference since 1977 but in 2014, Asiea Naqash of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) defeated Mohammad Syed Akhoon of National Conference. Asiea polled 13234 votes as against Akhoon’s 9834 votes.
Known for the revered Hazratbal shrine, the constituency comprised areas of old city and its outskirts, revolving around Dal lake including Rainawari, Saida-kadal, Nigeen, Hazratbal, Habbak, Batpora, Zukura, Naseembagh, Malpora and Soura.
The residents have a mixed response over development of the constituency as various developmental projects that were initiated in past are yet to be completed and some are yet to begin.
The much hyped ambitious Rs 45-crore project for the development of the revered Hazratbal shrine and its adjoining areas on the banks of Dal lake which was rolled out by former Chief Minister of the State, Mehbooba Mufti, is yet to be completed.
At that time it was said that the project will aim to construct tensile structures for prayers during summer and monsoon, four-laning of ‘dargah’ entrance, illuminating the shrine complex, underground ablution spaces, dormitory for devotees, re-developing of Dargah market, an Islamic Cultural Centre and a sewerage treatment plant for the shrine complex and the project would be completed within two years.
However, the residents around the shrine and devotees claimed that various works have been completed while some are yet to begin.
Another developmental project that has not been completed is the widening of the Syed Meerak Shah-Zakura road. The 10.33 kilometre road widening project that was started in 2009 with an estimated cost of Rs 336.24 crore to serve as key surface link to old town, Hazratbal shrine and University of Kashmir. However, despite passing of six years, the project is going on at snail’s pace with even its first phase yet to be completed.
Some of the inhabitants said they are being paid less for their rehabilitation while others claimed that the bottlenecks are being removed selectively. “If the authorities have to demolish our houses, in return they have to give us compensation as per the market value. If Government cannot afford to pay us according to market price, then they have no right to take our property. Government is not keen on removing bottlenecks, while as at some places they have dismantled buildings, but at other spots they are looking at other way,” a resident of Rainawari said.
The constituency is comprised of various areas in the interiors of Dal lake and when it comes to the development, the residents claimed that they are being neglected.
The residents said that the main road of the Mir Behri area in Dal interiors is in shambles and have not been developed. Besides, a bridge known as Latti Bridge which was sanctioned in 2017, is yet to be constructed.
The residents also said that they are unable to repair or does any construction work in their houses due to ban by the authorities and many residents who were rehabilitated at Rehabilitation colony at Rakh-e-Arth in Bemina area are finding it difficult to live there due to lack of facilities and after coming back to their previous place, they are living miserable lives here also.
The Dal dwellers also complained that there is no hospital or a single dispensary in their area due to which they have to face hardships during the time of emergency medical care. “Healthcare is an important issue. There is not a single dispensary available for our area. During an emergency, we have to rush the patient to the JLNM hospital in Rainawari but that is too far from here,” Javed Hussain, a resident of Dal said.
He also said that there are hardly any street lights in their area and they have to face problems in commuting during dark hours.
Another project that is yet to be completed is the construction of Mini Maternity Centre cum Hospital in Zakura area of the constituency. Although the infrastructure of the hospital is nearing completion but it can also be listed among pending developmental works in the constituency.
The tale of another project that is construction of a women college in Batapora area spread over 40 kanals of land is also same. The project is yet to be completed.
The residents of several areas including Rainawari, Naidyar, Gurupora and Jogi Lankar of the constituency complained that they lack community halls and they have to face problems in organizing functions due to congestion in the areas.
Like other constituencies, the problem of dilapidated condition of roads can be seen in this constituency as well and residents of various areas said that no macadamization of roads was done while in some areas, roads were first macadamized and then dug out by another department for laying pipes and constructing drainage system.
The various areas where roads are in shambles include Malbagh, Umerhair, Batpora, Baspora, Saidakadal, Naidyar, Hassanabad, Tailbal etc.
Another project that the residents of Rainawari said has not been initiated is the link road between Rainawari and Nishat. The link road via Zindshah Majid, Naidyar connecting Nishat would help in reducing the long distance people have to cover to reach the other side of the Dal lake. “The project is already sanctioned but the work has not been started yet. Even the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been made but till date, the project is pending,” Ali Mohammad, a resident of Rainawari said.
As per the residents of Rainawari and its adjoining areas the Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial (JLNM) hospital in Rainawari which caters to various areas of downtown in this constituency lacks facilities due to which they have to face problems in patient care. “This hospital caters to a vast population of the old city but lack of facilities in the hospital is a serious problem for the people. Some highly sophisticated tests are not being conducted in the hospital at night and patients are often shifted to other hospitals. There are no proper facilities for pregnant ladies and are often shifted to Lal Ded hospital. Another building which was constructed is also incomplete. The hospital lacks proper Parking area and often people park their vehicles on roadside outside the hospital, creating problem for the commuters,” Firdous Ahmad, a resident of Rainawari said.
Lack of drainage system is another problem that people of this constituency are facing and majority of the residents in the outskirts of Srinagar complain lack of drainage system which results in water-logging.
The former MLA of Hazratbal constituency, Asiea Naqash, told Excelsior said that various developmental projects are pending due to non serious attitude of the concerned departments. She said various works that were sanctioned and initiated in the constituency are pending due to the inability of other concerned departments and despite repeatedly approaching them, no concrete steps are being taken to address the issues.
“The concerned departments are equally responsible for the delay in the developmental projects. In various projects, we managed to sanction and release funds for them but when the concerned departments will not do their work properly, the projects remain pending,” Naqash said
Asiea said that she tried to rectify the Healthcare sector in the constituency as well as in other parts as she was also the Minister for Health and Medical Education in the previous Government.
Naqash said a Mini-Maternity centre cum hospital was sanctioned in Zakura area of the constituency to address the issues faced by the women and it is almost complete, besides a Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Habbak area was upgraded to Community Health Centre (CHC), work on the Maternity wing of SKIMS soura hospital was restarted and the work on the Unit-II of the JLNM hospital is going on.
She said the constituency was facing severe crisis in the education sector due to which girls were most affected but she tried to bring reform in the sector of the constituency and ensured that proper facilities are being provided in schools and upgraded the schools. “There was a serious problem in the constituency regarding schools. Girls were finding it difficult to study after secondary level. A school in Tailbal area was upgraded to higher secondary level. A women’s college was sanctioned in Batpora area which is nearing completion. Besides, proper facilities were provided in other schools and a Nursing College was on the cards,” Naqash said.
The ex-MLA said that Rs 1.50 crores were spent on electricity mostly on installing new electricity poles in the constituency. “New electricity poles were installed in various areas of the constituency. Besides, four grid stations were sanctioned in Batpora, Tailbal, Rangpora and Gulab Bagh,” she added.
She said two new foot bridges-Wangund bridge and Shanpora bridge were sanctioned and work on them is going on.
“The development of downtown areas is being hampered due to congestion and the problem in the acquisition of land. There are legal hassles in housing for all. We have to decongest these areas but we cannot rehabilitate them all as it needs major funding. While the areas around and interiors of Dal lake are facing problems because for every developmental work, we have to ask NoC from LAWDA,” she said
She further said the road widening projects are hampered due to inability of the concerned departments to remove the bottle necks. “The Revenue Department is not negotiating with the people in acquisition of land for removing bottlenecks. There are various projects that are approved and already sanctioned but not negotiating with the people on the rising prices of land is the problem, the work on the projects are hampered,” Naqash said.
On the Hazratbal shrine beautification project, the ex-MLA said that Rs 42 crores were allocated to enhance the beauty of revered shrine and phase-I of project was started in which various works were completed while Phase-II is pending. “There was no major work done for the beautification of the Hazratbal shrine in past. Our Government started the project and allotted funds for it. In the Phase-I of the project, the wall around the shrine was constructed. Roof, Flooring, Wazukhana and car parking was constructed for the devotees. There used to be a dormitory for women who used to spent nights at the shrine in the past but was not available now, I revived that and spent Rs one crore for the construction of a dormitory for the women in the shrine. The construction of the Islamic Cultural Centre is also going on. The phase-II of the project is about to begin”, she said.
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