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7 yrs on, ITC remains a distant dream Foundation stone stolen 8/1/2014 1:06:36 AM Muhammad Mukaram PULWAMA, July 31: In the era of free flow of finance capital and international trade, it seems that the region of Kashmir is facing death of industry and commerce. The International Trade Centre (ITC)is still a distant dream. The foundation stone laid by the then chief minister and the then union commerce minister for establishing the (ITC) has been stolen - leaving no mark as to when and by whom it was laid. The people around the demarked land fear that any time it can turn to be venue for slums. The negligence of ruling government results no hope for the construction. More than seven years have elapsed the day the idea was floated; the ITC still remains a distant dream for the traders and the common people. Seven years ago the then Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Azad and then Union Commerce Minister Jairam Ramesh laid the foundation stone for the first ever International Trade Centre (ITC) in Kashmir at Pampore some 12 kms away from lal chowk. But the site is still remaining in the same stage as when the foundation stone was laid down. In 2007 the then PDP led Congress coalition government acquired 378 kanals of land in pampore in order to boost thetrading activities of the state and would cover all business and cooperate offices within the centre but the state government has failed to start the construction process. According to Kashmir Chamber and Commerce Industries (KCCI) President, Shiekh Ashiq, "Delaying of construction process on ITC has become the main cause of crises for our economic public sector. We are worried if the funds has already sanctioned then why the implementation is not yet taking place. It has not only kept our dreams hanged but also become cause for our economic development." The official source reveal that 30 crore has been sanctioned from the then centre government after the state government identified around 375 kanals of land for the international trade centre in Kashmir. "If state government is making tall claims of reviewing the business sector in Kashmir, then why the International Trade Centre is yet to take off? It would have boosted our business sector. Realty is that the State government never implemented any promise whatever they say," Said Kashmir Economic Alliance, Chairman, Yasin Khan.Kashmir Economic Alliance added authorities have always shown us a dream of ITC. "An idea to have one of the largest trade centers of South Asia made me so excited and I could not leave any stone unturned to praise the steps taken by the then government but it seems the idea would never develop into a reality," says one of the citizens of Pampore.   Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network     Comment on this Story

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