People of Gund Momin Bala area of Vilgam, Handwara in north Kashmir's Kupwara district have laid barricades from last five days to prevent movement of vehicles through one kilometer road stretch which is in dilapidated condition.The blockades have been laid to protest against non-fulfillment of “promise” made to them by local MLA and minister in PDP-BJP government Sajjad Gani Lone to macadamize one-kilometer road stretch.“Sajjad sahib came in August and promised that this one kilometer road stretch would be macadamized in a week. Many months elapsed since but his promise was never translated into action,” Ghulam Hassan Sheikh, a local said. he was flanked by young men, women and children besides a blockade when a team of GNS was passing through the area.
“We cannot even open window due to dust generated by passing vehicles. It is creating problems for our children and elderly. It’s more troublesome for sick and people having respiratory problems,” Sheikh says.A man among the crowd shouted that “they politicians forget everything soon they came to power.”“He (Sajjad) would regularly come during electioneering and seek votes. We will never fall into trap again,” he said, adding, “Are we asking moon? No. Our only and simple demand is macadamizing of small stretch of road as dust generated from passing vehicles has become nuisance. Our children are suffering from respiratory diseases.” (GNS)