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| 'Efforts on to sabotage Mughal Road project' | | JK's economic despondency not of its own making: Mufti | |
Anantnag, June 26 – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today called for according utmost priority to the economic rejuvenation of Jammu & Kashmir in proportion to its immense potential and the legendary place, it once had, in the South Asian region. "Inclusive expansion of the State's economy is the only way to challenge the scourge of unemployment and economic deprivation of its people," he said.
Addressing a day-long PDP convention at the tourist resort of Ahrabal, Sayeed emphasized on generating new economic activity, building infrastructure and integrating the State with the market economy developing around it. "Due to various reasons including the political uncertainties, the State's economic development has been subjected to immense restrictions depriving it of the benefits of a new era of prosperity unfolding in the region," he said and lamented that even today various restrictive elements are not allowing the fresh air of globalization, market economy and liberalization to cross the boundaries of the State, denying the place and its residents an opportunity to fully exploit their fabled entrepreneurial, artistic and business genius.
Sayeed pointed out that given its rich water & mineral resources, scenic beauty, cherished handicrafts, horticulture & agriculture potential, the State's economic distress is more because of a conspiracy of circumstances than the lack of development inputs. He said one of the major constraints for the State's economic development is the lack of opportunities and accessibility as the sub-continent's partition has completely cut it off from the traditional markets in the region. "And regrettably no effort was made at any level during the past six decades to address the State's genuine logistical and accessibility concerns," he said.
Sayeed made it clear that an action-packed politically determined effort is needed at various levels to pull the State out of the shadows of economic isolation and provide its people a level playing field in the economic activities developing around it. "Surplus energy, a sound technological and industrial base in conformity with its natural and human resource, increased access, advanced educational & research facilities and a right to define at the grassroots level priorities in the Government investment, should constitute the major icons of a viable, economically strong and a self-reliant Jammu & Kashmir," he said.
Stressing the need for improving inter and intra State connectivity, Sayeed said lack of accessibility has had almost a crippling fallout on the State economy. He said even after 60 years of independence Kashmir is yet to have reliable all-weather connectivity with rest of the world. "Ironically hundred and one unnecessary impediments have been intentionally created even in the execution of a vital connectivity project - the Mughal Road," he said and added that while nobody objects to the construction of Delhi-Dehradun expressway through Rajaji National Wildlife Park in Uttrakhand, unnecessary hue and cry is being raised over the Mughal Road construction on flimsy grounds, to sabotage the project. "Any further delay in the execution of the Mughal Road project would only concretize such doubts," he cautioned.
Firmly calling for eschewing the policy of double-standards and double-speak towards Jammu & Kashmir, Sayeed said the problems of the State are compounded more by the prejudiced mindset of certain quarters outside the State than the local reasons. "The people of Jammu & Kashmir have a right to ask for their due share in the country's economic boom, that they have unfortunately been deprived of so far," he said and added that the State's educated young men and women must get equal opportunities to reap the fruits of contemporary growth-oriented and job-intensive sectors like information technology, biotech, commercial farming, food processing etc.
Stressing the urgency for adopting a new approach for the development and maintenance of the tourist destinations and tourism infrastructure in the State, Sayeed said immediate measures have to be taken to develop the comparatively less crowded resorts like Ahrabal-Kongdoori circuit that are yet to be harnessed fully. He also called for construction of Nandimarg-Gulabgarh and Dadimarg-Mahu Mangat road links to provide better accessibility to these remotest areas with the Kashmir valley.
Senior PDP leaders Abdul Aziz Zargar, Sardar Rangil Singh, Mohammad Sharief Tariq and Chowdhary Zulfikar were also present on the occasion.
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