The history of Baramulla town is as old as Kashmir. The town has served as an economic lifeline for centuries to the landlocked Kashmir valley, besides it has also made a great contribution to human history.
It is to be said that when the water from the Satisar Lake was drained out, it was in Baramulla where Kashab Reshi released the waters from the vale. Since then it has been part and parcel of human history, be it religion, civilization, politics or economy.
It has been considered as the gateway of Kashmir when Jehlum Valley Cart Road was opened. This historical town was an important stopover for travelers and the businessmen. However, partition changed everything for this historical town. It gradually over the years lost business and the political essence.
The town which was the important place got ignored by the government, many areas of this biggest district of the erstwhile state were halved and slowly it was turned into a small district with insignificant place in the history.
The main town of the district which has been visited by famous personalities now has been turned into a town which doesn’t have a single parking place. For the past three decades the politicians haven’t been able to create a single parking space which has resulted into the traffic congestion in the town.
The filtration plant that was installed in the town four decades ago has outlived its life span and there is no word about the creation of a new one. The roads of the main town are full with potholes and ditches and nothing is being done to repair them.
Also the new town doesn’t have a single park, even the old parks have been encroached by the people. Besides, not a single solid waste management plant has been established in the town despite the government making tall claims about developmental projects.
The town also lacks proper recreational places and lanes and drains in the old city have got choked and several old places are without underground drainage networks.
Being a historical town the J&K government needs to pay special attention towards this historical place otherwise in coming years this town will end up in a most insignificant place in the entire J&K.
