Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, June 1: Even in Ramzan, people in the Valley face immense hardships due to lack of basic amenities despite tall claims by the government.
Before the beginning of the holy month, government had claimed that they would ensure proper electricity and drinking water supply during the Ramzan.
"Government has failed to provide us uninterrupted electricity even in our metered area. The electricity often turns off during the time of Sehri (predawn meals) and Iftaar (fast breaking time). It has turned our lives hell and we find it difficult to bear the scorching heat when the electricity goes off," Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of Habak, said.
People from different areas like Batamaloo, Soura, Qamarwari, Bemina, Sakidafar, Old City Srinagar, Baramulla, Sopore complain of frequent unscheduled power cuts during the holy month of Ramdhan.
They said the government seems least bothered about the inconveniences being faced by the people during this holy month.
Not only electricity, the taps are running dry in several parts of the Valley. "We are not able to perform the ablution properly due to lack of tap water. As we witness scorching heat, our taps are running almost dry. Nobody seems bothered about the inconveniences we face these days," said Altaf Ahmad Dar, a resident of Natipora.
Similar complaints are pouring from several parts of Srinagar, Ganderbal and Budgam. "We get water only for one hour in the morning the rest of the times taps are running dry," said the residents Wadwun Budgam.
There are also reports that scores of ration depots across the Valley are virtually empty.
"I have been visiting the ration depot to receive the rice for past three days, but to no avail. There is no ration available and I was compelled to purchase the rice from the market at an exorbitant price," said Mohammad Subhan, a resident of Rainawari.
Despite the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) claims to have set up special price squads to check profiteering in Ramdhan, the ground situation in the Valley's markets narrate a different story, were the shopkeepers are dictating their own prices and creating huge embarrassment to the local people.
People say there is no control on vegetable prices and shopkeepers are dictating their own prices.
However, a senior CAPD official said people should inform to the CAPD officials if any shopkeeper is not adhering the rate list approved by the government. He said they have fined scores of erring shopkeepers. |
