Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 6: The Katyawali area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla is grappling with severe land erosion, resulting in significant damage to residential houses and compelling affected families to migrate to safer locations.
The erosion, which began last year, has caused cracks in several houses in Ward Number 4, with approximately 10-15 houses affected and three houses completely destroyed.
Expressing distress, Muhammad Sidiq Chechi, a resident, said: “No one has ever visited us except the Pathwari.”
The residents lamented the gradual widening of cracks as the earth continued to erode and said that this year, the situation worsened, “with many houses deemed unsafe for habitation, necessitating families to relocate to secure areas.”
Affected have been tirelessly seeking the attention of officials to address their plight but have encountered a lack of response. Click here to watch video
“The authorities must take cognizance of the matter and implement necessary measures to ensure our safety,” urged Gulzar Ahmad, another resident.
Frustrated by the lack of action, residents questioned whether officials were waiting for a tragic incident to consume precious lives before taking their concerns seriously.
The residents have been demanding the allocation of Ggovernment land in a safer location to construct new houses and live securely. However, they said, their repeated requests have seemingly fallen on deaf ears, “with no significant steps taken to address our concerns.”
They emphasized that the administration can allot five marlas of land to accommodate their immediate relocation, as the land erosion continues to expand its reach.
Assistant Commissioner of Revenue Baramulla, Peerzada Mumtaz Ahmad, acknowledged that the matter had come to their attention, and a revenue team had already assessed the situation.
He assured affected residents that they would receive compensation as per the established norms. However, regarding their demand for alternative land, he affirmed that their request would be forwarded to the Government, and “further action would be determined based on the government’s directives.”
The residents said that they are anxiously waiting for the implementation of measures to safeguard their lives and homes, hoping that their pleas for intervention will not go unanswered. “The urgency of the situation calls for immediate attention from the authorities to prevent further damage and provide a suitable resolution to the affected families,” the residents said.
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