By Er. Anil Kumar Shan
Chartered Engineer | Independent Candidate – 50-Padar-Nagseni, GELA 2024
Kishtwar , (DD):Despite having two elected public representatives from District Kishtwar, the realities on the ground paint a grim picture—marked by civic neglect, crumbling infrastructure, and alarming administrative indifference.
Many neighbourhoods across Kishtwar are reeling under unhygienic and unsafe conditions. Piles of unmanaged garbage, crater-filled roads, and choked drains have become a common sight. In several areas, entire streets are submerged in filthy drain water that spills onto footpaths and seeps into nearby shops, carrying with it polythene waste and sewage. Such unsanitary conditions are breeding grounds for diseases like dengue, typhoid, and skin infections—endangering public health and crushing the morale of local communities.
Even more concerning is the rising social tension fuelled by this civic breakdown. Regular disputes between residents over poor access, flooding, and lack of administrative response are eroding the peace, brotherhood, and harmony Kishtwar was once known for.
The environmental consequences are equally disturbing. Polluted water sources, plastic waste, and degrading public spaces are harming our fragile ecosystem. In a district known for its natural beauty, this scale of mismanagement is unacceptable.
This raises a crucial question: Where is the accountability?
Civic responsibility is not a political favor—it is the core duty of those elected to serve the people. Leaders must rise above partisanship and ensure that basic public services like sanitation, waste management, and infrastructure upkeep are consistently maintained.
As a concerned citizen and independent voice from the 50-Padar-Nagseni constituency, I call upon the administration and elected officials to launch a coordinated civic recovery plan. We urgently require:
Timely and structured waste collection and disposal,Reconstruction of broken roads and proper drainage systems,A strict crackdown on polythene usage, and most importantly, a community-backed cleanliness campaign supported by law and policy.
Let us not allow neglect to define Kishtwar. Let us work together to restore the health, dignity, and harmony of our district—for ourselves and the generations to come.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the Diplomat.Digital.