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| Economic revolution has begun to dawn in J&K: Azad | | CM visits country's most backward area to usher development process | | Early Times Reporter
Kishtwar | June 11
Asserting that economic revolution has begun to dawn in Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the revolution would unfold progress and prosperity besides ensuring social justice to people in all areas of the State.
The Chief Minister was addressing largely attended public meetings at Kishtwar, Nagbhatna and Chhatroo after inaugurating and laying foundation of several development projects in Kishtwar district today. These include foundation laying of Rs. 20 crore grid station to be ready by December 2009 and inauguration of industrial estate and common facility centre for bee-keeping at Kishtwar, inauguration of classes at the newly sanctioned Government Degree College, Rs. 1.26 crores double-storey primary health centre building, Community Information Centre and Malikabad Model Village at Chhatroo developed at a cost of Rs. 1.20 crores. He also took stock of work on the upcoming DC office complex at Kishtwar.
Azad is the first Chief Minister to visit Nagbhatna in Inderwal constituency which is still considered as the most backward area in the country. People in this area have to walk for 7 to 9 hours before reaching a point of road connectivity to catch a vehicle. Not to speak of a Chief Minister, the people in the area said that they have not seen a minister visiting their village till date. In view of the backwardness of the area and the resultant problems confronting the local population, the Chief Minister announced a dispensary and a higher secondary school to be set up at Nagbhatna.
Minister for Higher Education, Gulchain Singh Charak, Minister of State for Power, Babu Singh, Minister of State for School Education, G. M. Saroori, Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Ramesh Chander Sharma, MP, Lal Singh, MLA, Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo, Commissioner/Secretary Industries and Commerce, Pawan Kotwal, Director Industries and Commerce, Jammu, Director Colleges, District Development Commissioner, Kishtwar, senior officers, prominent citizens and a large number of people were present.
The Chief Minister said that Jammu and Kashmir is resolutely marching on the path of progress with each area of the State receiving focused attention of the government in matters of development. He called upon the people to be stakeholders in the development process launched in the State with liberal central funding and asked them to take benefit from welfare and development schemes. He said the State and the Central governments have formulated a comprehensive development strategy for J&K under which all villages and areas would be connected with roads, besides ensuring adequate healthcare, education, drinking water and power supply in the next four years. He said basic amenities are being provided to the people in areas that have remained out of focus for long.
Referring to vast Hydel power potential in the Chenab basin and other areas of Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Minister said that several power projects are presently under execution while on many others work would start soon. He said with the completion of these projects availability of electricity in the State would improve considerably. He said that with the setting up of grid stations at Ramban, Kishtwar and Kilhotran and with laying of transmission line from Ramban to Kishtwar and other areas, the availability and voltage of power would improve in Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar districts even as the power losses and power cuts would reduce.
The Chief Minister interacted with the students at Government Degree College, Chhatroo and emphasized upon them to work hard for a bright future. He described the opening of the degree college as a historic day for the people of Chhatroo saying it has brought higher education to their doorsteps. He called upon the youth to benefit from various self employment schemes and not look towards government jobs which are not available. He said the educated youth should generate employment for themselves as well as create avenues for others.
At Kishtwar, the Chief Minister laid foundation stone of 2x20 MVA 132/33 KV grid station estimated to cost Rs. 20 crore besides inaugurating industrial estate at Sangrambhata, Kishtwar spreading over an area of 42.15 kanals of land and developed at a cost of Rs.80.29 lakhs. He also handed over orders of land allotment to 7 entrepreneurs for setting up their units in the industrial estate. He hoped that with the availability of necessary infrastructure, more entrepreneurs would come forward to set up their units, thus paving way for the growth of industries in the area. A common facility centre for bee-keeping would also be set up at a cost of Rs. 50 lakhs in the industrial estate for testing, quality control and bottling of honey. The districts of Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban have vast scope for bee-keeping which the Chief Minister desired to be exploited to the maximum.
Speaking on the occasion, Gulchain Singh Charak congratulated the people of Chhatroo on the inauguration of the college in their area. He said that under the leadership of Azad and with the cooperation of the people, Jammu and Kashmir would touch new heights of progress and prosperity.
G. M. Saroori said that the Chief Minister has caused a new dawn of development to rise on the horizon of Jammu & Kashmir. He thanked Azad for opening a degree college at a far-flung area like Chhatroo. He said it is a golden day for the people of the area, especially the students whose dream of pursuing higher studies nearer home has been fulfilled.
MP, Lal Singh gave details of the massive infrastructure development launched by Azad-led government in the State and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi for taking keen interest in the speedier progress of the State. |
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