Gopal Sharma
Darhal constituency of district Rajouri spread along the Pir Panjal Ranges bordering Mahore, Kalakote and Rajouri constituencies of Jammu region is the worst victim of Government apathy and of course, neglect on the part of not only `sitting’ PDP MLA, Ch Zulfkar Ali but his predecessors, who failed to come up to the expectations of the public from many pockets of this constituency. In last five years, the people of this entire belt have turned against the present Government alleging `discriminatory attitude’ in releasing funds for various projects in the constituency.
Once described as strong- hold of the National Conference, majority of the people of this constituency have now started going away from this popular regional political party, showing strong resentment against its leadership for the attitude of total neglect of the area. Many would not believe, but it is well known to the suffering people of this remote and hilly belt that just 30 km long Kotranka-Khawas road which was started by the towering NC leader and the then Chief Minister Sheikh Mohd Abdullah in 1976, is still incomplete today when his grandson Omar Abdullah is also at the close of his first inning as Chief Minister.
`Kandi-Budhal verses Darhal factor’ in this mountainous constituency, played a crucial role in the slowing down the pace of development in some area of both the sides. Majority of the population in Kotranka and Kandi-Budhal belt is of Gujjars while others have edge in Darhal area. They are ultimately the deciding factor in each election and this traditional favouritism during elections, has affected the over all development in this belt.
Represented by PDP legislator, Ch Zulfkar Ali, the problems of the people from this Darhal constituency are also common like other parts of adjoining Poonch, Rajouri and Reasi districts. His father, Ch Mohd Hussain, a popular Gujjar leader from the area, represented this constituency for the four terms. In 2002 polls, Th Puran Singh emerged winner as Independent candidate, while Zulfkar from PDP made his maiden entry to J&K Legislature in 2008. He secured 19,399 votes and defeated Mohd Iqbal Malik (Ind), who bagged 14,858 votes. Liaqat Ali from NC remained at third place with 14,510 votes while Congress candidate Puran Singh got 12,506 votes. Having a population of 1,60,300, Darhal constituency has 89,817 voters. The constituency has 78 Panchayats. Majority of the people are poor and deprived of the basic amenities.
Poor road network, lack of drinking water and power supply, poor health care facilities, shortage of doctors, severe shortage of ration, non-availability of teachers in schools, swindling of funds worth crores under NREGA, several PMGSY and Water Supply schemes are the issues being confronted by the hapless public. They have lot of hopes from their MLA from the opposition party but Mr Ali has apparently failed to perform to his potential due to lack of adequate support. Though he turned out to be popular in several pockets including Budhal and Kotranka, yet could not come up to the expectations in some areas of Darhal,
One Rajinder Kumar from Kotranka said that MLA is frequent visitor to the area and he also meets people but being in opposition perhaps he is unable to perform due to lack of support from Government. He alleged that Congress and NC leadership created atmosphere of discrimination and this has also affected the pace of development. He alleged that 58 kms long Rajouri-Budhal Road could not be upgraded even after 15 years. The GREF authorities have almost abandoned work after widening at many places and the people have been left to suffer. No body listens and there is no control on the GREF authorities by the local administration or the legislator.
Alleging big scandal in the NREGA, he said the payments of the job cards holders are pending for months. Bogus lists are prepared and the payments are drawn from the bank directly by VLWs, JEs in connivance with the Sarpanchs. Some Political leaders of the area are also sharing the booty and works are being shown executed merely on papers. There is no monitoring of so called works by any agency and the Government is hardly bothered about the misuse of public funds by the RDD officials. He said Kotranka to Khah- Jamola road which is 17 kms in length could not be completed even in 8 years. Bindi to Jamola road under PMGSY was abandoned half way.
The work on Kotranka- Khawas road was started by Sheikh Mohd Abdullah in 1976, but unfortunately the work on this 30 kms road length could not be completed even during the regime of his grandson Omar Abdullah. One can understand the height of discrimination with the people of this belt. Water supply Schemes worth crores were formulated for Sain Nal, Khah Jamola, Reyon, Dar Sakri, Kanthol, Swari, Bain Numbla area about two decades back but the funds were swindled. There was no source but pipes were laid and tanks raised. No action was taken against any official of PHE. The scheme never saw light of the day and it was projected that water sources dried up. People of this remote area were left high and dry and no responsibility was fixed on anybody for the lapse.
Mohd Qayoom from Faiza Morh area of Kandi disclosed that there was demand of the people of a bridge at a nalla but it could not be fulfilled. During flood many students can not reach nearby High School. Road from Kandi to Morha-Khadiyun could not be completed. There is shortage of power supply. Flat rates are charged from the consumers despite the fact that power remains affected for weeks together in some pockets. NREGA payments are pending for the last over one year and the people are befooled by the Panchayat secretaries and RDD officials. Even job cards of many workers have been collected by the Sarpanch and he makes partial payment at his sweet will. He demanded a bridge at Retla to Kasini area up to Khadiyun. One Mohd Azam from Pajnara said job cards have been issued to many workers but no jobs were provided by the RDD to the people of his Panchayat. He said the Government should stop this scheme as poor people are not getting benefit out of it. The funds are going to the pockets of concerned RDD officials and few middlemen including some Sarpanchs and political people.
At Samote, which is about 45 kms from Rajouri, the people are not happy with the condition of road maintained by GREF and poor delivery of essential services. The place has got a Higher Secondary School but it lacks adequate staff. The concerned subject lecturers are not available. The people complained of shortage of ration and kerosene oil and poor health care facilities. Mushtaq Bhat running a Medical shop there apprised of the public miseries. Kamlesh Kumari from Draman village said there are Middle Schools at Liyor and Draman but hardly two teachers are running these schools. Children are suffering and concerned ZEO is least bothered about the future of the children. Jagdish Singh from Sakri said that there was no dispensary or health sub centre in the area. In the absence of road people are facing hardships. There is PHC at Peeri and the people have to move there for any medicare. People do not get CAPD ration and sugar quota has not been received for the last many months. Ch Mohd Bashir of Panjnara projected that there is acute shortage of water and area does not get adequate power supply. Transformers remain out of order for weeks and months together and people are generally left to suffer. In the absence of poles, the cables are carried through green trees posing risk to the life of animals and villagers. Road from Mandir Galla to Panjnara was never completed. From this point 7 kms road stretch was constructed under Sadbhavana by Army about a decade back. Due to lack of necessary work it could not be made motorable. It was again taken up under PMGSY. It will lead to Parodi and Peeri which is 18 kms from Mandir Galla, and then to Darhal town but till today this road could not be completed. The people of nearly five Panchayatas are still cut off by any road link. Another road from Kot Darra to Peeri which was started about five years back could not be completed due to lack of funds. People from Swari, Dhar Sakri and Kratwara are also facing problem of road, ration, water and electricity, besides medical facilities. There is no kerosene oil depot in the area and ration supply is not regular.
In Kewal model village near Budhal, the people were generally happy with some sort of developmental work initiated there. Former Congress MLA Th Puran Singh belonged to this village. However, most of the people from Budhal town and adjoining Panchayats are not happy with the slow pace of development and neglect of the area. They said though MLA visits the area but he has failed to come up to the expectations of the people. The condition of road in the main market is worst and drains are non-existent.
A local resident of Budhal, Abdul Latief said that an old `Kool’ in the area which used to irrigate over 1500 kanal area has been damaged and with this huge chunk of agriculture land has turned barren. During work on a nearby PMGSY road this Kool was damaged near Bilas Nad (Gabbar Nalla) few years back but this Kool could not be repaired or restored. No body is bothered about it. He alleged that Budhal was tehsil but during the tenure of Mirza Abdul Rashid it was shifted to Kotranka by conspiracy. Again, the people of Budhal were deprived of tehsil status recently and despite long agitation for tehsil status, Budhal faced discrimination and got mere assurance. Mohd Farooq from Dandote village alleged shortage of ration, kerosene oil, non-payment to workers under NREGA for one year. Mohd Imtiaz from Haiyan claimed that despite long demand a bridge on nalla from Rishi Mohalla to Hayiyan could not be provided to the people. There is shortage of power and ration. He said there is over 10,000 voter in the area including five Panchayats and they play major role in the victory of any MLA from Darhal. Paharis and Gujjars dominate this belt but there is peace in the area. He said there is shortage of poles and live electricity wires are carried through trees. The locals claimed that MLA visits the area frequently and also holds corner meetings with the public.
Though condition of Rajouri- Darhal road has been improved yet another internal road link between Darhal to Thannamandi has remained incomplete. The people allege that due to poor supply of funds this road could not be completed. Even the Road from Darhal to Peeri has remained in shambles. They stressed that if roads are improved and good communication is provided to the public of this mountainous constituency, the economic condition of people will also improve. Local elderly persons and `respectable’ from the town, Abdul Rehman, Abdul Majid, Ghulam Haider Aatish projected the local issues of the area and stressed the need of improvement in healthcare facilities in local hospital besides immediate posting of doctors. They said the local BMO Dr Iqbal and two more doctors are mainly running this Sub-district hospital and many posts were lying vacant. There was no lady doctor, surgeon or physician available. The condition of many link roads is worst. Many doctors managed their attachments to other places. They also projected problems of water and power and poor maintenance of main road. They expressed satisfaction over the condition of new building of upgraded Darhal hospital but said that boundary wall of hospital is still incomplete. In two local Higher Secondary Schools subject teachers/ lecturers are not available and the children are suffering. The CAPD ration supply is also not regular and adequate. The health care facilities at Lah PHC are also inadequate. Due to lack of proper drains the roads have been badly damaged. One Farooq Ahmed said that Darhal is mainly dominated by Maliks but some Paharis were also there in the area. The people of this belt have always supported Malik candidate. This factor has virtually caused damage and slowed down development in certain pockets.
MLA Darhal Ch Zulfkar when contacted said that he played crucial role in the upgradation of Darhal Sub District Hospital with the cost of Rs 4.75 crore and construction of new Revenue complex there with the cost of Rs 3.50 crore. Khori Wali Kool was also completed in the area with the cost of Rs 3 crore. Another Irrigation project worth Rs 54 cr has been got sanctioned for Peeri area. It had been abandoned earlier in 1983. The water from Anas river will be brought through tunnel for irrigation purpose for this fertile belt. Nearly 200 transformers have been provided under RGGVY scheme in the area and 1500 km LT/HT cables spread all over. Nearly 75 % villages/ hamlets have been electrified so far. Ten Middle Schools were upgraded as High Schools, 86 new Primary schools were opened and 70 upgraded. All the PHCs, expect one, were provided new buildings under NRHM during this period. He said being in opposition, the NC led Coalition Government caused discrimination with Darhal constituency and never provided adequate/ additional funds for completion of many development works. Even many works decided in the District Development Board meetings were not taken up. He said on several occasions during such meets, he lodged strong protest and even boycotted the meetings. Ali claimed that he would continue his struggle for his people.
Replying to another question, the MLA said that he was well aware of the bad condition of Rajouri-Budhal road. He has personally taken up the issue with the GREF authorities but BRO men have claimed that they have completed first phase of widening and now CD works and black topping would be started after funds are received. He pointed out that most of the funds of this constituency were used for upgradation of Darhal road and its condition has been improved. JK Bank branches at Budhal and Peeri were opened. The MLA said that providing tehsil status to Budhal is another priority but many issues of the people could be resolved after PDP Government comes to power next time. He said that he has been visiting all the areas of his constituency and much focus is being given on roads, water and power supply.
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