news details |
|
|
| PC tries to cheer KPs,lay a new cricket pitch,vouches for pre-safe phones | | Tara Chand leads Jammu to greet Chidambaram | | Munish Gupta
JAMMU, Nov 4
Undaunted by Vande Mataram controversy raked after his Deoband visit yesterday, the Union Home Minister, Mr P Chidambaram, arrived here today for an on-the-spot assessment of the implementation of Central Government’s schemes and directives vis-à-vis rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandit migrants to the city, law and order, and governance and security situation in general not only in Jammu region but also throughout the State.
Yet the Harvard Business School trained Union Minister was greeted on his arrival here by controversies, like denial by the Services cricket team to play against the State side at Srinagar, citing security reasons and the disconnect that over three million mobile phone subscribers of the State are facing because of the ban on pre-paid service imposed by the Centre throughout Jammu and Kashmir as this is thought to be “risk-prone and abuse by unscrupulous elements in cahoots with militants”.
Finding time through his busy schedule while in Jammu Mr Chidambaram convened a high level meeting of Jammu Area Command and reviewed security situation and law and order in the state. The ADG CID, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, IGP, Jammu, IGP, BSF/CRPF, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Corps Commanders of 9 and 16 corps and other senior officers of Civil and Police administration were present for the Home Minister’s meeting.
Earlier in the morning the Union Home Minister arrived at Jammu Airport accompanied by JKPCC Chief Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz to a warm welcome by a gaggle of State higher ups. Mr Chidambaram was received among others by Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Tara Chand, Minister for Health Mr. Sham Lal Sharma, Revenue Minister Mr. Raman Bhalla, MoS Cooperatives (Independent Charge) Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma, MoS Haj and Auqaf Mr. Aijaz Ahmad Khan, MoS Tourism Mr. Nasir Aslam Wani, MPs Lal Singh and Mr. Madan Lal Sharma, legislators, Congress leaders and senior government functionaries including Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Dr. Pawan Kotwal and IGP Jammu Mr. Ashok Gupta.
Among other things Mr Chidambaram assured close monitoring by the central government to ensure guaranteed results in the implementation of PM’s Rehabilitation Package for Kashmiri migrants.
This he said while addressing a gathering of KP migrants after inspecting pace and progress of work on the Jagti Township near Jammu city which is being developed for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandit migrant families living in various camps.
The Union Minister also held a meeting with the 32 member Apex Advisory Committee constituted by the government to make suggestions for welfare of the migrants and also to cooperate in the implementation of PM’s Rehabilitation Package for the displaced community.
Showing great concern over the difficulties being faced by the displaced community since the migration, Mr Chidambaram said that his endeavour would be towards bringing results which may lead to eventual return of the KPs to Valley besides protection and retrieval of their property and job recruitment as provided under the special package.
Giving a brief resume of his meeting with the Apex Advisory Committee Members, he said he has noted down every point raised by the members and the same would be brought to the notice of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. Mr Chidambaram said both Prime Minister and UPA Chairperson are highly concerned about the effective implementation of the rehabilitation package and he was here to ensure that their directions are followed.
Seeking the cooperation of members of the Apex Advisory Committee and General Body, Home Minister said that he would remain in their contact through the Revenue Minister of state cabinet and also by holding discussions on regular intervals personally.
Later, interacting with the media, Home Minister said that the concerned officials have assured him that 2,160 quarters would be completed by the end of December this year and 2,058 more would be completed by the end of May 2010.
Minister of State for Revenue and Tourism, Mr. Nasir Aslam Wani, PCC Chief Jammu and Kashmir Prof Saif-u-din Soz, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, IGP, Jammu, Mr. Ashok Gupta, Secretary Revenue Mr. Eijaz Iqbal, Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (M) Mr. Vinod Koul accompanied the Union Home Minister during his inspection of Jagti Township.
‘The township shall be first of its kind in the state as earlier neither the government nor any private firm had taken such a mammoth construction at one place’, he said.
He also pointed out that the government has constructed a road and bridge from Jagti to Nagrota at a cost of Rs 5.06 crores to ensure the connectivity of the colony to main highway.
An amount of Rs 294 crore has been spent on the construction of protection bund and other allied works around the township. The Central Minister said that every effort is on to provide the migrant brethren a respectable place to live. He said that the township was envisaged keeping in mind the hardships being faced by the migrants who have been uprooted from their birthplace, adding that it becomes the duty of the government to ensure that the community does not face any hardship for want of living space. He said that the selection of Jagti for construction of migrants’ township was made keeping in view the scenic surroundings so that the Kashmiri Pandits get a feeling of being in a place similar to the one they had left behind in the valley.
Earlier, the Union Home Minister inspected the work on 5,242 flats being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 345 crore. The team accompanying him went around number of blocks and inquired about the status of work.
The construction of accommodation for the displaced families was started in two phases. In phase-1, 1024 flats at an estimated cost of Rs. 51 crore were constructed at Muthi, Purkhoo and Nagrota.
The central government had sanctioned the Jagti Township project with a view to provide shelter at a single place which would facilitate the government to provide timely facilities and assistance to the migrants and also help the community to maintain and preserve their culture and traditions.
Spread over an area of 716 kanals, Jagti Township has been designed for a population of 25,000 people. Out of the total land, about 20 percent is being utilised for raising construction etc., and remaining shall be used for other facilities such as road, drainage, parks etc.
Against the approved project cost of Rs 295 crore for Phase-II, the expenditure as on date is Rs 124 crore. The project is scheduled to be completed by May 2010.
Talking to media persons, Mr Chidambaram indicated that fresh dates might be fixed for the cricket match in Srinagar that was cancelled after the Services' team of the Armed Forces gave a virtual walkover to its opponents on grounds of security.
He also said that the apology offered by the Services team, which represents the armed forces, to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), should be accepted.
Chidambaram, who came on a day-long visit to Jammu and Kashmir said he had spoken to Defence Minister A.K. Antony after he learnt about the Services' team backing out of Tuesday's Ranji Trophy match in Srinagar. "Services have offered apology and I think this should be accepted and fresh dates should be fixed for the match," Mr Chidambaram said.
The Union Home Minister said that the decision to ban pre-paid mobile connections is a well considered decision taken by the government.
Addressing a well attended press conference here this evening Mr Chidambaram said that now when the decision has been taken, the service providers will meet the government and present a plan which will take into account the security interests as well as the interests of the consumers.
He said that after this the government will take decision on replacing the withdrawn phone services to the subscribers with a perfectly secure system to ensure the security of the state and its people.
Regarding the security scenario in the state, Mr Chidambaram said that he had today taken a review of the security scenario in Jammu region and found it satisfactory. He said that militancy here is at an all time low, the number of militants neutralised is high and the loss of life on security side is also at an all time low.
Replying to a question regarding infiltration attempts, Mr Chidambaram said that there is no spurt in infiltration while there have been successes in checking the attempts for infiltration from across the borders. This means that security forces are well in control of the situation. Thus, he said that he was fully satisfied with the functioning of the security forces under the Unified Command.
Meanwhile, several deputations called on the Union Home Minister during hisJammu visit. A deputation of Congress Party workers led by Minister of State for Cooperatives, Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma, Ex. MLAs, Ch. Gharu Ram, Mr. Gulchain Singh Charak, Dr. Ramesh Chander Sharma, Mr. Girdhari lal Chalotra, Mr. Yogesh Sahwney, Ex- MP, Mr. Janak Raj Gupta and Secretary PCCI met Mr Chidambaram and called for strengthening the Party in the State.
Another deputation of Border Migrants met the Union Home Minister and submitted him a memorandum of their demands.
The deputations demanded a special package for Jammu region.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
