Sameer Kashmiri
ANANTNAG: Residents of Kokernag area in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday complained that the streetlights installed in this tourist place by the Municipal Committee Kokernag and Kokernag Development Authority KDA were not functioning. They said that some of the lights have gone out of order and the concerned officials have failed to replace them. This hampers smooth movement of inhabitants in kokernag during hours and causes immense problems to them.
Sources told to KNB that the streetlights worth corers’ of rupees were installed in the kokernag garden in several years back these lights are not functioning from the past some year.
kokernag development authority KDA and municipal committee kokernag has failed to undertake the maintenance of these lights said Abdul Rasheed a local resident. He said that from last one year we did dozens of requests to Municipal Committee Kokernag and Kokernag development authority to replace these defunct streetlights of Kokernag with new ones so that people can move easily in night. But everything goes in vain.
Kokernag is considered as a tourist spot when it has a potential of becoming a complete package for travelers. It has around 20 places which tourists can visit and enjoy the holiday here, Abdul Rasheed added.
“Despite many reminders the municipal authorities have failed to restore these streetlights,” said Abdul Raheem, a local resident. “We can’t venture out in the evenings as the whole areas reels under darkness.”
The defunct streetlights have also affected tourist’s activity in the place. In absence of street lights tourist face problems to reach hotels in evening. “This forces us to close business establishments and shops early,” a shopkeeper Nisar Ahmad said. “Despite paying taxes for basic facilities, the authorities have failed to repair the streetlights.”
If the streetlights are made functional, markets will definitely remain abuzz with the business activity during the late hours, he added.
Meanwhile, after talking to KNB Executive officer Kokernag municipal committee Farooq Ahmad said that I will look into the matter and will make it sure all the defunct street lights in Kokernag be made functional, However KNB also tried to contact the CEO Kokernag development authority but he came not reachable. (KNB)
Comments are closed.