Srinagar, June 27: Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari has strongly demanded “a comprehensive economic and housing package” for the people living in Srinagar’s old city. He said that “the historic city has suffered decades of official neglect, leaving its residents to struggle with severe economic hardships and an acute housing crisis.”
In his statement, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “Acute poverty is evident in the localities of the old city, historically known as Shehr-e-Khaas. Many residents live in inadequate housing, and overcrowding is a common reality. In many cases, two or even three families are forced to share a single house. These living conditions reflect not only severe economic hardship but also years of neglect and inadequate urban development.”
He further said, “Unfortunately, the existing reservation system also works against the interests of residents of the city, as most of them do not fall under any reserved category except the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). Even this quota has now been reduced from 10 per cent to 3 per cent. For many young people, the future appears bleak, with little hope of securing stable employment and a decent livelihood.”
Apni Party President said that unemployment, limited economic opportunities, and inadequate housing have also contributed to growing social concerns. “One of the major reasons for delayed marriages, or in some cases the decision not to marry at all, is unemployment, lack of economic opportunities, and inadequate housing. These challenges have created deep social and economic concerns, particularly among the youth,” he said.
He went on to say, “The old city is the soul of Srinagar and cannot be left in its present condition. The residents deserve better living conditions, quality education, decent housing, and access to sustainable livelihoods.”
He urged the elected government to take immediate and concrete measures to bring the city out of its current state of neglect and decline.
He said, “The government must raise this issue with the Union Government and seek a special economic and housing package for the residents of the city. It is the government’s responsibility to treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves.”
“The city not only needs a special economic and housing package but also modern public infrastructure. Recently, even an hour of rainfall left several downtown areas of Srinagar flooded, while waterlogging disrupted normal life for hours. This clearly shows that the city’s drainage system is inadequate and in urgent need of improvement. The government must pay serious attention to upgrading the city’s infrastructure, particularly its drainage, roads, and public services,” he added.
