Srinagar, Sep 02: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar on Saturday expressed dismay over the “sorry state of affairs” in Srinagar, saying that the city had been “rescinded” from the development agenda of the incumbent government.
In a statement issued here, Sagar said, “Over the past six years, Shahar-e-Khaas bore the brunt of successive lockdowns and curbs. Shopkeepers, artisans and marginal traders were not able to do their business here. We have more than three families living in one house. The youth of Shahar-e-Khas are unemployed, the heritage is in shambles, and it has been years since the city infrastructure received any upgradation and augmentation.”
On the failure of the government to upgrade the present urban infrastructure in Srinagar, the NC leader said, “The number of pump stations across Kashmir had seen no augmentation. The urban poverty in Srinagar was another stark reality, which could not be undermined. Thousands of households, particularly those of daily wagers, artisans, marginal traders, and those engaged in the private sector are facing many hardships due to penury induced by the loss of jobs and a slump in economic activity. Scores of such families are not able to arrange two square meals for their families.”
Meanwhile, the NC Women’s Wing President Shameema Firdous has expressed dismay over the plight of people in the Basant Bagh locality due to unrelenting power outages for the last seven days during the ongoing summer season. “These power cuts used to be a common occurrence during winter, but experiencing them during summer takes a huge toll on our daily lives. We are not prepared for this. It feels more like a punishment than any other issue. The question of why they are punishing people remains unanswered. I hope the administration will wake up to the issue as soon as possible,” she said.
