Muneeb Nazeer
Kulgam, July 30: Residents and fruit growers in the Kanjikulla-Kokergund belt of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district are raising alarm over the worsening condition of their main link road, a vital stretch that connects dozens of orchards to markets and cold storage facilities.
The road, which was previously in poor but manageable condition, has deteriorated drastically after the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department carried out pipeline-laying work earlier this year. Locals allege that the department left the road unrestored, turning it into a pothole-ridden, muddy track where even light rain renders it nearly impassable.
“The road was bad, but at least it was manageable. After the PHE dug it up, they left it worse than before,” Altaf Ahmad Dar, a local resident told news agency JKNS. “Now, even walking has become a risk, especially for school children and the elderly.”
Fruit growers are among the worst affected as the apple harvest season approaches. The poor road condition has led to transport delays, while heavily jolted trucks damage the produce en route, causing bruising that results in rejections at mandis and cold storage facilities.
“We work hard all year to produce good-quality apples, but it all goes to waste on this road,” said Mudasir Ahmad, an apple grower from Kanjikulla. “Buyers reject damaged apples, and the losses fall on us.”
Residents also claim that the newly laid PHE pipeline is leaking at two to three spots, worsening the situation by creating slushy patches that make movement even more difficult during rains.
With the peak apple harvest just weeks away, residents have urged the district administration to intervene immediately. “This road is not just for farmers. It’s a lifeline for the entire community. Load carriers, school buses, everyone uses it. If not repaired now, the economic loss will be immense,” said another resident.
Locals are demanding urgent blacktopping and proper restoration of the road to prevent what they describe as an impending crisis that could devastate the area’s agricultural economy.
When contacted, Zeeshan Ahmad, Assistant Engineer (AE) of the Roads & Buildings (R&B) Department, confirmed that the macadamization work for the stretch has not yet been approved. (JKNS)
