Bandipora: The residents of Kanzalwan and Nyle villages of north Kashmir’s Gurez Tehsil, find themselves grappling with the absence of operational local government ration stores for the last several years.
The locals told the news agency Kashmir News Observer that the food store in Kanzalwan, constructed several years ago, remains non-functional, leaving locals with the arduous task of walking approximately 4 kilometers to access essential food items.
“In winter, we encounter significant challenges due to the absence of essential provisions in our localities. Navigating on foot becomes especially difficult during heavy snowfall. We urge the administration to be aware of our hardships and take measures to ensure that the stores in our area are operational,” the locals said.
Despite raising the issue with authorities multiple times, they said that no concrete solution has been implemented to activate the food store in Kanzalwan.
Local resident Mohammad Abdullah said, “We’ve been facing this challenge for years. It’s not just about the inconvenience; it’s about the safety risks, especially when we have to navigate through the terrain in winter.”
“We can’t keep risking our lives to get basic necessities. It’s disheartening that our pleas haven’t been heard so far. We hope the authorities take immediate action before the situation worsens in the harsh winter conditions,” Mushtaq Ahmad, another local said.
The villagers, many of whom are economically disadvantaged, stress that the lack of accessible ration stores puts additional strain on their already challenging lives.
They appealed to the higher authorities to intervene and address the long-standing issue, ensuring the provision of essential food items to the community.
Mukhtar Ahmad, the Block Development Council (BDC) chairman, joined the chorus of requests directed at the LG Administration and the Director of Food.
He urged them to promptly look into the situation and initiate measures to make the ration stores fully operational, providing much-needed relief to the affected villagers. (KNO)
