By: Javaid Malik

Kulgam: The orchardists from the villages of Asnoor, Korel, Watoo, Aharbal, Manzgam, K.B. Pora, Chimber, Danewa Kandimarg and other adjacent villages Noorabad told this reporter that they were left out by the Government while providing compensation to the people who were affected by the untimely snowfall of November 2018. The snowfall inflicted heavy damage to the orchardists in the entire area and the loss is running in crores.

Many villagers said that they approached the authorities many times and even after their visits to the villages, they did nothing so far for the compensation to them. One of the sufferers, Rafiq Ahmad Naik resident of Asnoor told this reporter that authorities have entered in the records those farmers who have not suffered and do not exist. He has appealed the authorities to direct the officers to visit the said villages and order the compensation to the sufferers without any delay.

The villagers including Abdul Haq Wani, Zakir Ahmad Naik, Fareed Ahmad Dar, Muhammad Ashraf Naik, Khurshid Ahmad Naik and Shiraz Ahmad Naik told this reporter that when in November heavy snow damaged the fruit in the orchards, they could not take their fruit out of the Kashmir Valley. While many such fruit growers were compensated in South Kashmir, they were not given any compensation so far despite the visit of authorities and their inspection of the damages caused by this snow.

These villagers have appealed Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and Deputy Commissioner Kulgam to look into their grievances and direct the officials to revisit these villages and provide compensation on the basis of merit and not make list of such sufferers who do not exist on ground.