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| JK farmers have first right on water flowing through State: Mufti | | PDP to hold agitation in support of Basmati growers | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
BISHNAH (JAMMU), Oct 18: Reiterating his demand of early completion of Shahpur Kandi project to improve socio-economic conditions of the farmers of Jammu region, Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said that delay in completion of this project was badly affecting farming community of the State.
He regretted that farmers from different states are taking benefit of the Ranjit Sagar project but farmers of Jammu and Kashmir, who have high stakes in the project, are deprived of their genuine share.
Addressing an impressive Kissan Conference at Bishnah, Mufti reminded that it was promised to give water to the farmers of Jammu and Kashmir under inter-state bilateral agreement through Shahpur Kandi project downstream of Ranjit Sagar Dam.
He, however, regretted that promise was yet to be fulfilled and the bilateral agreement is not implemented. He said that proper implementation of bilateral agreement would change fate of the farmers of Jammu region.
He asserted that people of Jammu and Kashmir have first right on the water which flows through this State and PDP has been agitating for this right.
While highlighting problems of the farming community of Jammu region, PDP patron emphasized the farmers to go for diversification of crops in order to improve their economic condition.
He said that Bishnah, Vijaypur, R S Pura, Samba, Ramgarh, Kathua and some other areas have potential of growing sugarcane so there is need to establish a sugar mill in this region.
He said that setting upon of Sugar mill will be proved as boon the farmers of this region.
Expressing his concern over shrinking of agricultural land, PDP patron said that his party has repeatedly asked the government to bring a Bill in the Assembly to impose ban on utilization of agriculture for commercial purposes. "I don't know why this government is hesitating to bring the Bill?" he equipped, adding, "There is need to regulate the system to ensure that agriculture land should not be utilized for commercial purposes".
Mufti expressed surprise that R S Pura and Bishnah areas are considered as rice bowl of Jammu and Kashmir but the government has not formulated any comprehensive policy for the marketing of the world famous Basmati being produced in this belt. "We will agitate for the demands of the farmers to set adequate procurement centres for purchasing Basmati on reasonable prices", he said.
While pointing towards two different stands taken by the National Conference and Congress on empowerment of Panchayats, he said that it is clear that both the parties which are running a coalition government are not on same page. He said that there is lack of consensus between coalition partners and both Congress and National Conference are equally responsible for depriving elected Panchayat members of their constitutional rights.
Senior PDP leaders Trilok Singh Bajwa, Thakur Balbir Singh, Ved Mahajan and others also spoke on the occasion. |
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