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| Governor inaugurates Chullan micro project | | Civil-military liaison key to development of border areas: Sinha | | URI, AUGUST 1- Chullan and surrounding terrorism affected areas in Uri sector, woke up to a new dawn and ray of hope this morning with Governor, Lt. General (Retd) S K Sinha inaugurating 500th micro hydel project in the village. The five-kilowatt project will provide electricity to 40 light points in this shanty village including light points for a mosque, school and a community centre during night and boost economic activity by way of running looms and girding corn mill during the day.
The Governor was accompanied by GOC-in-C, Lt Gen Deepak Kapoor, GOC 15 Corps, Lt. Gen SS Dhillon, GOC 19 Div, Maj Gen. Ramesh Halgali and local civil and military officers.
‘I find my dream coming true’, the Governor said, adding that 500 such units have already been completed by the Army and the remaining 500 would be ready by October/November this year. This is a small but steady stride towards economic emancipation of border areas besides electrifying remote hamlets with almost no generating cost and involving community as a whole, he added.
General Sinha arrived to a rousing reception to the village, with people of adjoining areas lining up in their village periphery- children carrying tricolors in their hands. The area was a hot bed of terrorists till last year, has been cleared from peace-breakers with the cooperation of the people in the wake of goodwill generated by the Army among the populace.
The 1000 micro hydel projects had been conceived by the Governor with the aim of providing electricity to every village on the mountains. He got the project cleared by the Prime Minister who sanctioned Rs 20 crores for this dream project. Each micro hydel project costs Rs two lakhs. He said certain problems and the October earthquake had delayed the implementation of the programme. The entire project is being executed by the Army. Projects on being completed will be gifted to the village communities after their representatives have been trained to operate them. The Army will be available to assist in maintenance and repairs as required.
The Governor lauded the cordial relations between the Army and the people, saying that close cooperation between the two have opened up new vistas of progress and development the State. He hoped that the Army will continue to extend all necessary help to these people and recalled with pride the response during natural calamities especially the last October earthquake.
‘During that calamity, wherever I went, the people expressed their gratitude to the Army for timely help without which they would not have survived. They wanted the Army to undertake all relief and development works in their areas, he said. Lately groups of Gujjars, Bakerwals and Paharis visiting various parts of India as also a group of 40 Imams who too had been taken on such tour had been periodically meeting him at Raj Bhavan and voicing similar sentiments. This is in sharp contrast to demands for demilitrilization by some people in the State and across the border.
Striking a personal chord with border dwellers, the Governor said that having served more than a decade of his Army career in forward areas of Kashmir, he always felt at home amid the hill people. He said he cherished happy memories of cordial relations with them. The 1000 micro hydel projects had been thought of by him primarily for their benefit. He also expressed his satisfaction at having the minimum educations standards for their recruitment to the Para Military Forces lowered to Class 8th.
Addressing over a thousand strong gathering, the Governor complimented the people of Kashmir especially the border areas for maintaining the pluralistic ethos of the State during most testing times. He recalled the horrendous tribal raid of 1947, the main brunt of which was felt by the people of Uri and Baramulla, and said the locals showed immense degree of courage and fortitude in halting the advance of marauders. He also remembered the people’s movement led by Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah against the tribals and cooperation rendered by the people to the Indian Army in evicting the raiders led by Pakistani Army officers. ‘This saved Srinagar from meeting the ghastly fate of Baramulla’, he added.
Haji Mohammed Amin, a native of the area, reminded the Governor of his meeting two years ago in Uri during the felicitation of Haj pilgrims by the Army. Haji Amin also addressed the gathering and complimented the army for its endeavours in ameliorating the lot of border people.
Requests for a hospital and better road connectivity were made by the local people. The Governor told them that this was high in the list of priorities of the Chief Minister who was working tirelessly and burning the midnight oil for this without caring for his health. He assured the people that this is bound to yield results in bringing about a prosperous Kashmir.
Responding to the request made to the Governor by the locals about construction of a link road in that area, the Army readily agreed to excess. General Sinha said that he will be pleased to share their joy in this village on completion of the link road and come again to the village to inaugurate that road.
Interacting with the media, the Governor said that estimated hydropower potential of Jammu and Kashmir was 20,000 MW of which only 1500 MW have been harnessed so far. The 1000 microhydel projects should provide 5000 KW of hydropower in a very short time frame and with relatively very cheap cost, he added. |
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