This south Kashmir village has no electricity for years

Srinagar, Mar 23: Even as the government claims to have provided solar home lights to households in un-electrified villages in the state, the residents living in Sonabrari village in Kokernag area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district are still being forced to reel under darkness in absence of electricity from past several years.
In modern day world, the residents in this village in absence of the basic facility are being forced to survive like old age time.
The residents of this village, which is situated about thirty kms away from main Anantnag town said that the Power Development Department has ignored them, resulting in immense hardships to them.
“We are being forced to reel under darkness from past three years,” they said, adding that the authorities in the department don’t even bother to visit the village to fulfil their genuine demands.
Accusing the local legislator as well as the PDD department for ignoring their plights, the villagers demanded immediate fulfilment of their demands.
They said that the negligence of the authorities is forcing the business community here to lock down their businesses early.
Meanwhile, the residents including men, women and old staged protest against the PDD department for not paying heed to their demands.
“We approached to MLA Kokernag several times in the past but unfortunately he despite giving assurances didn’t fulfil our demands. Thus, forcing the residents to reel under darkness since long,” they said.
They later appealed the authorities to look into the matter and fulfil their demands at an earliest.
When contacted, Exen PDD division Anantnag, Khalil Ahmad said that the electricity to the village will be provided once the funds will be available.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anantnag, Mohammad Younis Malik has directed the Sub District Magistrate and PDD division Anantnag to visit the village and submit the report regarding the issue.
“The electricity to the village will be provided soon. The officials have been directed to visit the village and to submit their report in this regard. Following their visit, necessary steps would be taken in this regard,” he said. (KNS)