Nestled in the southern part of Pulwama district, Shahoora stands as one of the most prominent yet neglected sub-divisions of South Kashmir. Home to nearly one lakh residents, Shahoora was carved out as a separate tehsil in 2019 during the administrative reorganization aimed at bringing governance closer to people. However, six years on, this vision remains unfulfilled, as the area continues to reel under administrative apathy, developmental delays, and infrastructural deprivation.

A Cluster of Villages

The Shahoora sub-division comprises of almost 36 Villages with several key villages - Litter, Chakoora, Wasoora,Achan,Tumlahal Lassipora, and Naina, along with a cluster of smaller habitations that contribute significantly to the socio-economic fabric of Pulwama. Despite this, the area lacks even the most essential public amenities. For instance, Chakoora, one of the largest villages with a population exceeding 10,000, astonishingly does not have a Patwari Halqa of its own, forcing villagers to depend on distant administrative units for land and revenue matters.
Educational and Health Infrastructure: A Distant Dream
With a population approaching one lakh, Shahoora’s youth continue to suffer due to the absence of a Degree College, compelling students to travel long distances to Pulwama, Anantnag, or Awantipora for higher education. Many deserving students, especially girls, are unable to pursue further studies due to mobility and financial constraints, leading to a sense of educational exclusion.
Equally distressing is the lack of healthcare infrastructure. The sub-division does not have a Sub-District Hospital (SDH) or even a Community Health Centre (CHC), leaving residents entirely dependent on distant medical facilities. Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and sub-centres often lack manpower, medicines, and equipment, putting lives at risk, especially during medical emergencies. This absence of robust healthcare has been a long-standing demand of locals, yet it remains unmet despite repeated representations.

Infrastructure and Connectivity

Road connectivity in Shahoora paints an equally grim picture. The Narrowed Lassipora-Litter-Sangam Road Awaits Widening and Astanpora–Chakoora road, an important historical route connecting Pulwama with Anantnag, continues to remain narrow, poorly maintained, and unsafe. Despite being a lifeline for thousands of commuters, no significant widening or upgradation work has been carried out in years.
Adding to this list of pending works is the Lift Irrigation Scheme Chakoora, a project initiated nearly 15 years ago to boost agricultural output and benefit local farmers. However, it remains incomplete and non-functional, symbolizing the region’s long history of neglected promises. Several other developmental initiatives, including better drainage, water supply, and electricity improvement schemes, remain stuck in administrative limbo.
Fire and Treasury Services: Still Missing
Perhaps the most glaring lapse in Shahoora’s infrastructure is the absence of a Fire and Emergency Service Station. In an area with dense population and numerous commercial establishments, fire incidents often lead to major losses before help can arrive from distant stations in Pulwama or
Bijbehara. Similarly, the absence of a Treasury Office forces residents and employees to travel long distances for financial and administrative work, causing inconvenience and unnecessary delays.

Economic Potential

Despite such challenges, Shahoora holds enormous economic potential. Its fertile lands, extensive apple orchards, and proximity to Lassipora Industrial Estate could make it a thriving hub of horticulture, trade, and small-scale industry. However, due to the lack of planned development, inadequate infrastructure, and government inaction, this potential remains largely untapped. Locals frequently express frustration that Shahoora, despite its size and contribution to the district’s economy, has not been granted the facilities befitting a sub-division.

Public Anger

Residents across Shahoora accuse successive governments and political representatives of turning a blind eye to the area’s developmental needs. They recall that numerous pre-elections promises such as setting up a degree college, upgrading health centers, completing the irrigation scheme, and improving road connectivity have never translated into action. Even after being declared a sub-division, Shahoora remains administratively hollow, with no real empowerment at the grassroots level.
A local social activist from Chakoora aptly summarized the sentiment, saying, “We have been hearing announcements for years, but nothing changes on the ground. Shahoora was made a sub-division on paper, not in reality.”
People’s Voice: Hope Amid Neglect
The residents of Shahoora, despite years of disappointment, remain hopeful that the administration and government will finally recognize their plight. They demand the establishment of a Degree College, Sub-District Hospital, Treasury Office, Fire Service Station, and completion of long-pending projects like the Lift Irrigation Scheme and the Astanpora–Chakoora road. The people believe these facilities are not luxuries but basic rights that every sub-division should have.
As one villager from Litter noted, “Our youth are educated and capable, our land is fertile, our people hardworking what we lack is attention and infrastructure.”

A Call for Govt Intervention

The story of Shahoora Pulwama is not merely one of neglect but also of potential waiting to be realized. With focused administrative attention, transparent implementation of pending projects, and equal distribution of developmental resources, Shahoora can easily transform into one of the model sub-divisions of South Kashmir. The time has come for the government to turn announcements into actions and ensure that this long-forgotten region finally receives the development and dignity it deserves.

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