Lelhara residents flag issue of ‘decaying rice’
Demand action on Non-Functional food store
Pulwama: The residents of Lelhara village in Kakapora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district have raised their voices over the long-pending issue of a defunct Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCSCA) and store in their area.
The residents of Lelhara said that the store has remained non-functional for the past ten years and has now become a source of inconvenience due to the foul smell emanating from spoiled rice stored inside.
The villagers alleged that the store was submerged during the devastating floods of 2014 and has remained in a state of neglect ever since.
Despite being government property, no steps have been taken by the concerned authorities to restore or repurpose the store.
The inhabitants expressed frustration over the inaction of the food department, despite multiple complaints and appeals over the years.
“We have repeatedly brought the issue to the attention of officials, but our pleas have fallen on deaf ears,” said a local resident.
The decaying food grains have now become a health hazard, with locals fearing it may lead to serious consequences if not addressed immediately.
The residents have once again appealed to the Deputy Commissioner of Pulwama and the Tehsildar of Kakapora to intervene and resolve the issue at the earliest.
“This matter should be looked into on priority. Not only is it a question of public hygiene, but it also reflects the insensitivity of the administration towards the basic needs of people,” the villagers said.
They urged the administration to either restore the facility for public use or clear it of the spoiled stock to prevent further inconvenience.
Meanwhile, an official of the concerned department said that they have written to higher ups multiple times in the regard and are hopeful action in this regard will be taken soon.
