Promises turn to dust: Crumbling roads, unfinished projects, & a community in crisis

Devsar, a constituency now officially home to two towns—Frisal and Devsar—has found itself at the center of a growing controversy, with many residents arguing that the recent urban designations do not reflect the area’s true character. Notified as towns only a decade ago, these areas have sparked significant discontent among locals who contend that their largely rural nature makes the urban status premature and unfounded. The demand for the denotification of both Frisal and Devsar as towns has gained momentum, with residents pointing to the lack of basic urban infrastructure as evidence of a decision that was both hasty and ill-conceived.
The delimitation process further complicated matters, as the constituency’s boundaries were redrawn, absorbing most of the villages from the now-dissolved Homeshalibugh (HS Bugh) into Devsar. Villages from Qazigund Tehsil were also detached, yet despite these administrative changes, Devsar’s rural identity remains intact, fueling the calls for denotification.
Infrastructure and development woes plague the constituency, where poorly maintained link roads hinder access to essential services, leaving villagers feeling isolated and neglected. In Kilam, a poignant example of the area’s struggles, over a dozen families who lost their homes in the devastating floods of 2014 still await permanent rehabilitation. A decade later, these families continue to live in temporary shelters, a stark reminder of the unfulfilled promises that have haunted the constituency for years. Mohammad Altaf Dar, a 32-year-old resident of Gund Kilam, has spent over a decade entangled in a bureaucratic struggle, battling with the District Administration and higher authorities to secure the permanent housing promised to these flood victims. As the assembly elections approach, the urgency of their demands has only intensified. Fourteen families remain in limbo—eight families, totaling over 40 members, are crammed into tin sheds, while six others find temporary refuge in a nearby hospital building.
Mushtaq Ahmad, a local from Kilam, highlighted the long-overdue filtration plant, a project that could potentially provide safe drinking water to nearly half the constituency. Yet, like many other development promises, it remains incomplete, leaving residents to fend for themselves. Healthcare infrastructure in Devsar is similarly dire. Advocate Shabir Ahmad lamented the stagnation in the development of the local Primary Health Center (PHC), which should have been upgraded to a Sub-District Hospital (SDH) by now. The new building for the PHC remains unfinished, forcing locals to travel considerable distances for even basic medical care. The situation in Frisal Tehsil, which comprises over 14 villages, is no better.
The absence of a fire and emergency services station adds to the growing list of concerns. With the nearest stations located in Qazigund and Kulgam, response times during emergencies can be dangerously long. Meanwhile, farmers struggle with incomplete irrigation projects that hamper their agricultural output.
Advocate Shabir Ahmad also mentioned the long-standing demand for a Munsif court in Devsar, a project that had seen some progress. “We are hopeful that Devsar will have its Munsif court soon,” he added.
Public amenities are another sore spot in Devsar. Locals have called for essential infrastructure like footpaths, floodlights for the local stadium, and the construction of a marriage hall—demands that have gone unanswered. The lack of a proper dumping site has exacerbated waste management issues, further diminishing the quality of life in the constituency. Residents are also pressing for the establishment of a public library to cater to the educational needs of students in this predominantly rural region. Despite its rich history of political representation—having been ruled by the National Conference (NC) five times, the Indian National Congress (INC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) twice each, and an independent candidate once since 1962—the developmental story of Devsar remains woefully stagnant. As assembly elections loom, the people of Devsar are left wondering whether this time will be any different, or if their cries for help will once again fall on deaf ears.