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| To settle scores with NC-Cong, PDP-BJP hit Jammu, spare Srinagar | | | M Hyderi
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, May 18: To settle scores with rival parties could be part of politics, but in J&K this type of politics is likely to hit Jammu, as the ruling coalition plans to shelve the Tawi artificial lake project while similar projects are executed and encouraged in Srinagar.
Contrary to Jammu deadlock, the infrastructure development projects started by the previous government in the summer capital Srinagar have gained momentum during past two months of PDP led-coalition regime.
The winter capital interests, on the other hand, seem to be a back-burner story. On May 16 while talking to reporters in Jammu, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed hinted at shelving of the previous NC-Congress government's artificial lake project in Jammu, saying it is "not feasible".
"As far as lake project is concerned, I will tell you, economically and technically, it is not feasible", Mufti who was flanked by Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Nirmal Singh and Minister of State Information Priya Sethi, said.
While Jammu is proving a cannon fodder in the tussle between PDP and BJP on one side and NC and Congress on the other, Srinagar is reaping never before benefits. In fact, the ruling PDP seems to have changed its stand after coming to power. In the past six years of NC-led regime, PDP in a sustained campaign opposed the construction of bridge across Jhelum in Raj Bagh, Srinagar.
PDP leaders including Naeem Akhter, now a Cabinet minister, often termed the upcoming bridge "technically faulty and ecologically disastrous." That time PDP said if voted to power it would abandon the project. Similar was the party reaction to the construction of the upcoming Jehangir Chowk-Ram Bagh flyover.
But now being in power, PDP which represents the Amira Kadal constituency, where these twin projects are coming up, has changed its stand.
The PDP minister Syed Altaf Bukhari, who also represents this constituency is not only monitoring the work progress on regular basis but has asked the concerned agencies to expedite it for timely completion.
This raises questions. "If artificial lake is not feasible in Jammu that too when most of the investment has been made, scores of projects in Srinagar including construction of skewed bridge aren't equally feasible at all. Why pampering Srinagar and victimizing Jammu," asked a retired Chief Engineer, asking not to be identified.
He said if the move was not about regional politics than PDP-led government should first abandon the Jehangir Chowk-Ram Bagh flyover and Raj Bagh bridge on priority.
Observers said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should personally intervene and look into how his party cadres are failing to safeguard the interests of the people who voted them to power in J&K. "Prime Minister must come to scene and see how illogically his people at the helm are working without application of mind," said a group of Jammuites.
BJP has its own take on the issue. Soon after Mufti shared his artificial lake shelving plan with media, the BJP decided to take Congress head on. The party plans to bring out all the papers in public on the Tawi artificial lake and how the proposed plan was changed, when Congress was in power.
The Congress on the other hand is going all out to blame BJP for allegedly shelving all the prestigious projects of the Jammu. Picking holes in the claims of present dispensation, former PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister, Taj Mohi-Ud-Din has said Central Water Commission has already approved the project.
The NC too has strongly reacted to shelving of artificial lake project in Jammu, saying that "governments do not function at the whims and fantasies of individuals." In a party statement the NC took exception to CM's statement asking "how the feasibility of the project can be questioned now when executing agencies remain the same."
"By change of government, the technicalities of developmental projects do not change. The expertise of engineers, who conceived and implemented the lake project cannot be undermined just casually. Over Rs 59 crore have been spent on this project and that cannot be allowed to spill down the drain," the NC said.
To settle the scores, PDP-BJP could be armed with volleys of arguments while NC-Congress might have a counter stock in place. But in this fight of elephants, Jammu's interests are getting trampled! |
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