Budgam, Aug 16: The residents of Churmujroo village in Beerwah tehsil in central Kashmir’s Budgam district have expressed frustration over the incomplete construction of their Panchayat Ghar, which has remained unfinished since its initiation in 2012. The villagers are now urging the government to expedite the completion of the long-pending project.
Local told Rising Kashmir that the Panchayat Ghar, a critical institution for village governance and public meetings, has been left in an incomplete state for over a decade. As a result, villagers have been forced to conduct Panchayat-related activities in various makeshift locations around the village, often under open skies due to the lack of a dedicated space.
Mohammad Shaban Sheikh, a resident of Churmujroo, said, “The government has provided Panchayat Ghars to every village in Budgam district, but in our village, the work has been stalled for 11 years. We have no proper facility to discuss village issues with government officials, and we’re often left to hold meetings in open fields.”
Sheikh said the unfinished building is in a deteriorating condition. “The walls of the Panchayat Ghar are worsening every day due to exposure to rain and snow, as there is no roof or even a slab over them,” he said.
The villagers claim that they have repeatedly approached concerned officials over the years, requesting the completion of the Panchayat Ghar. However, their appeals have yet to result in any meaningful action.
An official from the Rural Development Department in Budgam acknowledged the villagers’ concerns, saying, “We will bring this issue to the attention of higher authorities. The completion of the Panchayat Ghar in Churmujroo village is a priority, and we aim to ensure the work is fully completed as soon as possible.”
The residents of Churmujroo hope that their long-standing demand will finally be addressed, providing them with a proper space for village governance and community activities.
