Patwaris take flood victims for a ride

Notwithstanding the directives of the District Development Commissioner that Patwaris have to be present at their respective offices from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM,  flood victims have complained that these land officials are absent from their respective offices.
The residents of worst-hit Raj Bagh alleged that the concerned Patwari is hardly accessible. “With the result locals residents especially flood affected people have to suffer a lot as they are not able get the due compensation for their damaged residential houses and other structures,” the locals said.
“We have been doing rounds at the local office of Patwari located at Kursoo Raj Bagh (Bund) from the last many weeks, but the office is always locked and this is frustrating all those people who are yet to receive any monetary compensation from the authorities,” said the complainants.
“Many flood hit are putting up in other areas of Srinagar City and they come to meet Patwari with the hope that they may get some sigh of relief , but he is always absent and his phone switched off,” said  a delegation from another locality. Similar complaints poured in from Karan Nagar and Kani Kadal localities.
The complainants said the civil administration and police has gone “unduly lenient towards these erring staffers.”
When contacted the District Development Commissioner Farooq Ahmed Shah said the matter would be seriously looked into. “I will initiate an inquiry and whosoever is found non-serious towards his or her duties will be strictly dealt with under norms,” DDC told Greater Kashmir.
Pertinently the DDC who is also the District Election Officer has already exempted the Patwaris from election duty so that their duties towards flood victims are not affected.