Residents of ‘Suicide Colony’ pin hope on new govt
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Rajouri, December 1
With the new government likely to be in place by the end of this month, residents of “suicide colony” here have already set high hopes from it. The colony gets its name from the fact that it is located in the middle of the riverbed of Rajouri Nullah and a mild flood can wash it away.

In fact, this colony, also known as Bela Colony, came up because of migration of people from the semi-urban areas after the beginning of militancy in 1990s. Migrants from Thanamandi, Darhal, Chandi-marh and Bufliaz built up the houses that later took the form of a colony.

However, this unplanned colony didn’t get its name because of this factor. “The colony comprising about 400 houses and inhabited by more than 3,000 persons is located in the middle of the riverbed of Rajouri Nullah. “It can be washed away by floods of even moderate intensity. Of late there have been huge loss to the people living here as our cattle and valuable commodities got washed away. The successive government didn’t take flood control measures to save us,” said Azhar Ahmed, resident of the colony who along with his family migrated from Thannamandi on the outskirts here. “Now that the new government is likely to be in place by this month end we are expecting it taking concrete flood control measures to save the inhabitants here.”

Social worker and businessman Farooq Ahmed Dar said, “This colony is highly flood prone. In every monsoon water enters the houses of these hapless people who are living on the edge.” “While this unplanned colony was coming up, the government didn’t prevent them from constructing houses. Now that their survival has become difficult, I reckon it is the duty of the government to save these people. I hope that the new government, which is likely to be in place by this month end, will definitely take solid steps for the safety of these people.”

Deputy commissioner, Rajouri, Sheikh Rafiq said the district administration had proposed a project for three areas.