Ahead of elections developmental activities gain momentum

Tariq Mir
Bandipora, Jan 15: With elections in state round the corner, the development related work in this district has gained pace and momentum. According to residents the development work had come to a halt during past few years. “The authorities were not interested in carrying out construction and patch-work of the roads. We had met the district officials time and again to get the construction work of roads started, but our requests were not considered by the authorities”, said residents.
They said that now that election bugle has been raised, the district administration has begun to carry out development work. “The work has begum simultaneously on all the road stretches from main town Bandipora to adjacent and remote villages. The construction of eight km road stretch for Athwatoo to Tanghat to Haripora has also begun”, the residents said. Athwatoo to Haripora was not have proper road connectivity but with the construction work going on the 8 km road, it would become easily accessible from the district headquarters. The construction work is going on in full pace. Labourers are busy in filling up the huge craters on the road with stones so that patch-work can be taken up. No work seemed in sight in a small stretch of road from Panar to Athwatoo villages.People have welcomed the launch of the developmental activities in the district. “This is beneficial for us as we can visit even the remote villages without having to face any problems”, they said.However, the residents said that this all is being done to ensure smooth ride for the VIPs to the area during election period. “The local MLA, Usman Majid totally ignored the area where from he got elected. He did not carry out any developmental activities here. But now that the election time is nearing, the administration at his behest are carrying out the construction of roads so that he can claim credit for it and seek votes from us again”, said Abdul Aziz of Panar. Even the villages located in high altitudes are being connected to the district headquarters. “Thanks to the forthcoming assembly election, we are being gifted by the roads and other amenities,” said Ghulam Ahmed 50, of Aham sshariefSharing the same views, Muhammad Aslam Reshi of Ziyarat Makhdoom Sahib Ahim Sharief said, “Since elections are to be held this year, our leaders have woken up and pressing administration to carryout developmental activities. They should have done this before.” The commuters and transporters are a happy lot. They have been facing grave inconvenience due to bad condition of roads. “The relaying of roads will save our time and energy”, said a driver, Abdul Ahad. President Traders Federation Bandipora, Mohammad Saifullah said ‘For years, our leaders remain silent on developmental works but when it is election time they start the developmental activities to woo the voters. ” “If the elections would have been held frequently, then there would have been no stop to the developmental activities”, he added.