Srinagar, June 11 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) leader Lateef Ahmad Khan on Thursday said the apathetic attitude of the administration has pushed the people of Gurez into a life of isolation and oblivion.

In a statement issued to KNS, the electricity in Gurez has been reduced to a 5-hour affair as in a day and that too has drastically been impacted because of shortage of fuel for government run diesel-powered generators.

“There are dozens of villages in Gurez valley which still don’t have electricity. What is more alarming is that they have no protection from natural calamities and bank on traditional methods for survival. Since the area remains cut off for so many months, the J&K government seems least bothered about to redress grievances of its inhabitants,” Khan observed.

He said the lifestyle of people of Gurez is appalling because of the lack of basic amenities especially the electricity and telecommunication. “I appeal to the divisional administration to provide adequate quantities of fuel for the generator sets so that electricity in areas like Tulail, Baktoor and main Gurez is restored as per the schedule,” he added.

Khan said the Gurez lies just 130 kilometres from the capital, Srinagar but the official apathy has pushed this valley to the Stone Age era where people still crave for basic necessities like roads, electricity and water.

“There is just one hospital that can tend to major illnesses in Dawar which is also suffering for want of staff and equipment. Usually it is a taxing, bumpy ride to Bandipora to attend to other major illnesses but not more people go for those costly check-ups. Though primary healthcare centres have been set up in some villages, as have schools; however, the doctors and teachers who are needed to run them are missing,” the JKAP leader remarked.

He said the successive governments have been neglecting the interests of the people of Gurez, which seemingly reflects an anti-tribal attitude towards the residents of Gurez. “I expect the Honb’le Lieutenant Governor G.C Murmu would order administration to redress the grievances of people of Gurez area which has a tremendous strategic importance for the country", he said.(KNS)