Ganderbal, Jun 19: Apni Party Constituency Incharge Kangan, Choudhary Atta Mohammad Qamar on Thursday criticised the government for the “continued neglect” of the Sub Division, citing multiple developmental discrepancies and policy failures.
Addressing a press conference here, Qamar said that under the NABARD scheme, which allocates funds to the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department for infrastructure development, Ganderbal district has received Rs 55 crore, evidence of which he claimed to possess.
However, he expressed disappointment that despite the district being divided into two sub-divisions—Ganderbal and Kangan—Kangan has been consistently excluded from the benefits of the scheme. “It is unfortunate that Kangan never receives its due share of NABARD funds,” he said, adding that under the LG administration, already sanctioned projects are progressing in Ganderbal.
Wamar slammed the government for the delay in the implementation of the PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana) scheme in the region. “Although the geotagging process has been completed, there is still no clarity on when the beneficiaries will receive financial assistance to build their homes,” he said. He urged the government to expedite the verification process so that eligible individuals can avail the benefits without further delay.
The Apni Party leader also spoke on issues faced by labourers from Kangan who travel to Ladakh and Gurez for work. According to him, the verification process for these labourers often becomes a hurdle due to minor legal cases or misunderstandings. “While it’s acceptable to stop verification in serious criminal cases, labourers with minor FIRs—like road accidents—should not be denied verification. This affects their livelihood,” he emphasised.
On the issue of free electricity, Qamar alleged that the government had misled the public. “Poor people were promised free power supply and other benefits. Trusting these promises, many didn’t pay their electricity bills. Now, those promises remain unfulfilled and people are burdened with pending payments,” he said, accusing the government of using such claims to gain votes.
Addressing concerns related to MGNREGA, the Apni Party leader revealed that between 2017 and 2018, many labourers did not receive payment for material costs, which cover the wages of poor workers. “Before paying any contractor, the government must ensure that the dues of these labourers are cleared. Their right to payment cannot be overlooked,” he asserted.
Qamar also criticised the condition of public healthcare facilities in sub-division Kangan.
