Kulgam, july03: Almost after two years of flood, the affected residents of Arrigutnoo village of kulgam have still claimed their insecurity in the rainy days due to lack of dam on the bank river Vaishoo.
After the devastating flood in September 2014 which merged almost the entire Kashmir,the residents of Arrigutnoo village of kulgam district claimed their insecurity even after two years of flood. “We are about 5000 residents in the village, we all rush to safer places whenever it rains more than a day because government has not given us any sort of protection”. Said Tariq Ahmed one of the residents. He also said “The water had changed its path through the village during flood but from that day authorities have not paid attention to it , and it makes us restless during rainfall”. ” we lost the vegetation of about 4000 Kanals of land which were washed out completely along with 120 houses, but no full compensation was given” said Bashir Ahmad Bhat, the sarpanch of the village. He also said that about 200 houses were partly damaged but a meager amount was given by the government which hardly served their purpose.
“So many leaders visited us and promised a lot but nothing was done in real, so the area is still desolate”said Reyaz Ahmad another resident. The residents collected the fund to dam the banks of river when government did not responded to them after a year. ” We sold our jewellery and other essentials which summed up rupees 35 lakh to dam the Vaishoo on dangerous places”. “I lost all my land of 24 canals, I am in a destitute condition but no land compensation was provided by government ” said Ahmad Bhat a 75year old resident.
The question remains – When will the government wake up to the miseries of the people of Kashmir?
By – Peer Haseeb Ahmad Shah
Bachelor’s in journalism and mass communication (second semester)
Government Degree College Boys Anantnag
