news details |
|
|
| Mehbooba concerned over delay in Mughal Road project | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Srinagar, June 18 (KNS): Stressing the need for greater inter-regional connectivity Peoples Democratic Party President, Mehbooba Mufti, Saturday called for speeding up the execution of Mughal road project that is already delayed by more than a year.
Addressing a party workers convention at Noorabad in which recently elected Sarpanches and Panches prominently participated she said Mughal road is a flag ship project that was only the first in a series of such ventures the PDP had initiated and which could have immense socio economic impact on the state.
Mehbooba said the construction of road between Kashmir Valley and Poonch, Rajouri areas had a vast potential of increased economic activity in south Kashmir as well as Poonch and Rajouri. “The horticulture products of Kashmir especially Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam and Noorabad could in a matter of one day reach fruit markets across the line of control,” Mehbooba said.
She regretted that the pace of execution had slowed down in the past two years as according to the government announcement it self, the road would be traffic worthy only by the end of 2012 when it had to be completed in 2010 only. Mehbooba, however, appreciated the work, efforts and skills of the engineers and workers who worked on the construction of this mountain road to give the state another important link. She said their work was even more appreciable in view of the fact that they had to work in a hard and difficult terrain and hostile climate.
She said the Islamabad – Kishtwar connection via Simthan was restored by the previous coalition government but the present government has confined its performance only to press statements which are not matched by any progress on the ground.
The PDP President said she had recently traveled on the road between Shopian and Shahdara Sharief and had found the whole area full of possibilities for opening it up for tourism. While urging the government to start creating way side facilities and restoration work on the many Mughal monuments along the road she said the historic cave at Dubjan Meadow also would need attention and amenities. The cave is believed to have been inhabited for some time by Sheikh-ul Alam Sheikh Noorudin Noorani RA for meditation and could attract large number of devotees.
Expressing concern at the ‘inability’ of the government to carry forward tourism projects under the Ahrabal Development Authority, Mehbooba said this had pushed back the area by many years in tapping its tourism potential. She said the area needs intensified forest protection and regeneration efforts and development of tourism facilities so that the local youth could find decent and remunerative jobs.
Mehbooba said the area in Noorabad and around it has been facing problems on account of scarcity of Ration. She said in many villages the ration stores were not able to supply full quota to the consumers and urged the government to improve its performance at least on this crucial front.
Referring to the acute unemployment problem in this remote area
Mehbooba said the PDP patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed had envisaged a most modern Industrial Training Institute (ITI) for the area in private sector. Even though such an institution could have a great impact on employment scenario by giving modern skills to the youth, the project had not been followed up.
PDP general Secretary Mohammad Dilawar Mir, Abdul Aziz Zargar, Qazi Mohammad Afzal, District president Kulgam Nazir Ahmed Laway, S K Raina and Manzoor Ahmed Zargar were also present and spoke on the occasion.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
