Srinagar, Sept 23: As the second phase of assembly elections approaches in Jammu and Kashmir, voters in the Central Shalteng assembly constituency of Srinagar have voiced concerns over multiple development issues that have remained unresolved for years.
These lingering challenges, residents say, have once again come into focus since the Election Commission of India announced the Assembly Elections after a gap of 10 years.
Central Shalteng is one of the 90 constituencies in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and forms part of the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.
Among the key grievances is the non-operational Trauma Hospital in Lawaypora, located along the Srinagar-Baramulla Highway.
Ishfaq Ahmad, a local resident, expressed his frustration, pointing out that even after 18 years, the Jammu and Kashmir Health Department has failed to fully operationalize the hospital, demonising the expectations of people.
“The foundation stone for the hospital was laid in 2004, and back then, we had high hopes that it would help manage road traffic injuries and emergencies on the highway,” Ahmad said.
“Although the hospital is temporarily functional, the promised full-fledged trauma services are yet to start, leaving locals disillusioned.”
The incomplete hospital, which initially brought a wave of optimism, now stands as a reminder of unfulfilled promises.
“We believed the hospital would bring about positive change. Many saw it as an opportunity for business growth, with unemployed youth planning to set up clinical labs and pharmacies around the facility,” he said.
Waseen Ahmad, another local, said that the roads in the interior areas are in dilapidated condition, demanding that these should be repaired to avoid public inconvenience.
“The whole area is congested and fire stations are also far away. We need to have more fire stations to control any kind of fire incidents on proper time,” he said.
Another pressing issue raised by the residents is the lack of adequate drainage systems in the region. Areas such as Gund Hasi Bhat, Lawaypora, and neighboring localities, which are among the most densely populated, continue to suffer from improper drainage infrastructure.
Locals of these areas said that the sewage from these areas often flows directly into agricultural fields, affecting both residents and farming activities.
“We are in dire need of proper drainage facilities so that people don’t have to suffer anymore,” said a group of voters. Adding, “These issues should be at the top of the agenda for the candidates we elect. We have high expectations that this time, our concerns will be addressed.”
Voters have also emphasized the need for improved waste management in the constituency. They stressed that waste collection services should be upgraded, with a focus on adopting modern segregation technologies.
These technologies, they said, should enable the separation of waste at the collection point itself, ensuring that biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials are managed more efficiently.
“Effective waste segregation from the start would not only reduce the burden on landfills but also promote recycling and environmental sustainability,” the voters added, urging chosen candidates to prioritize this issue in their development agendas.
