Shopian 08 January (KNS): The newly elected DDC members of JKAP held a press conference here and advocated that the current situation in Shopian is not merely another snow fall but a disaster that has completely halted normal life in the district.
In a statement issued to news agency-kashmir news service(KNS), They urged LG that the Government must immediately declare Shopian as a disaster hit district wherein the whole system has collapsed due to unprecedented snow fall from the past few days. Government must bring immediate positive measures in resuming life in Shopian which is completely paralyzed since day one of snow fall. District administration Shopian with limited resources are not able to tackle the situation and seem helpless.
The district has been badly hit by snow and still all the villages and far flung areas are virtually cut off from district headquarters. Further, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party youth leader and DDC Member, Irfan Manhas said that people have elected them with lots of aspirations and this is the time when their DDC representatives should help on ground but unfortunately we haven't yet been assigned authority in decision making and take action against officers who doesn't help in resolving genuine public grievances. The response of officials in the current catastrophe is very poor as they know we are still out of the domain of administration.
While sighting an example towards performance of the mechanical department at Shopian, he said that Mechanical Division has totally given up and all load is on R&B shoulders who are not able to cater to such disasters. They further demanded that Shopian is a snow prone district and it needs a separate Mechanical Division. It is important to mention that currently Pulwama and Shopian share a common mechanical division.
He further said that people of Shopian suffered huge property losses and the district administration must announce an immediate compensation package in their favour. Also, this catastrophe has dealt huge damage to crops and they should also be compensated in coming time.(KNS)