Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 12: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today called for expansion of Kargil township by getting the land in possession of Army vacated.
He made the demand in his address at Khree Sultan Chow Sports Stadium before Prime Minister Narendra Modi during inauguration of Chutak hydro-electric power project.
Addressing the gathering before Modi inaugurated the project, Omar said expansion of Kargil town has become a necessity as the town was getting congested due to shifting of population from the surroundings and growing demands of the public.
Flagging the issue of the urgent need of land for the expansion of Kargil town, Omar sought Modi’s support to ensure the freeing up of that part of Khurbathong Plateau for the purpose which is at present under Army’s use.
“Army can utilise whatever portion of the plateau it requires and the rest can be provided for the expansion of Kargil town, which is the need of the hour,” Omar said while welcoming the Prime Minister in Kargil on his day-long visit.
Modi was here to dedicate 44 mw Chutak power project to the nation.
“Prime Minister saheb, you have come in through Indian Air Force aircraft. But the people here suffer because of harsh winters and lack of connectivity,” Omar said as he requested that Kargil be put on the map of commercial airlines.
Omar said that while Leh has some air connectivity, people in Kargil district are still bereft of such facilities.
As regards air connectivity between Leh and the rest of the country, Omar mentioned the costly fares being charged by the airlines and said that makes it impossible for the local population of Leh to travel outside during winters.
Omar said he has time and again advocated with the Centre the need for special attention to be paid for making air tickets affordable for the people of Leh and putting Kargil on the map of commercial airlines.
Omar also thanked the Prime Minister for announcing full funding of Zojila Tunnel, and said the tunnel was the cherished desired of the people of Kargil.
Meanwhile, praising the people of Kargil for their patriotism, Omar said that many attempts were being made to misguide the youth of Kargil but the people here refuse to fall prey to such vested interests.
“We have come to know that many a times, a number of attempts were made to misguide the youth of Kargil by the vested interests and lure then into undesirable activities especially when the town remains cut off from rest of the State. However, the youth didn’t fall prey to such forces,’’ the Chief Minister said lauding patriotism of the people of the district.
Earlier in Leh, while welcoming Modi at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the 220-kV Transmission Line and launch of the Nimoo Bazgo hydro power project, Omar praised former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for taking up the two power projects as part of the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Programme (PMRP) and fully funding the same and enabling their timely completion.
Omar said that NHPC could not have completed these projects had former Prime Minister Singh not released adequate funds for them under PMRP.
He mentioned the high potential of solar energy in Leh region as also the tourist potential of the area. He said that in terms of solar energy potential, Leh was equal to Gujarat.
Referring to a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the J-K Government and the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy when Farooq Abdullah was the Union Minister during UPA-II, Omar said that was aimed at tapping 5,000 ma of solar energy through various projects. He said it would provide a fillip to the economy of the region.
“With the construction of 220 KC Transmission System, from Alastaing-Srinagar to Leh via Drass-Kargil and Khalsti, the surplus power from Leh and Kargil districts can be evacuated for utilization in other parts of the State,’’ Omar said.
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