*Calls for Mughal Road as NH, 4 more tunnels
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 9: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today urged Surface Road Transport and National Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari to handover three important roads to Public Works Department (PWD) of the State Government, ensure early completion of 4-laning of Jammu-Srinagar highway, declare Mughal Road as National Highway and approve construction of vital tunnels to link important roads in Jammu and Kashmir. He sought construction of five Fly Overs in the State—3 in Kashmir and 2 in Jammu.
In another meeting with Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Omar apprised him the constraints faced by the State Government in implementation of Food Security Act, approved by UPA-II at fag end of its tenure and endorsed by Narendra Modi led NDA Government.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Omar in his meeting with Gadkari sought transfer of National Highway NH-IB Batote-Kishtwar road, Kargil-Zanskar and Domail-Katra road for maintenance to J&K PWD. He briefed Gadkari that the State Government had already taken up the matter with his predecessor in UPA-II.
All these roads of vital importance were in bad shape at some places due to lack of proper maintenance. Thousands of pilgrims visit Katra, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ji shrine daily, using Domail-Katra road, a major portion of which was in worst condition. Similarly, major portions of Batote-Kishtwar and Kargil-Zanskar roads have almost been turned into fair weather roads as heavy rains either lead to their blockade or massive traffic jams.
Sources said the Omar urged Gadkari in his first meeting with the Union Minister to handover all these three major roads to PWD for maintenance so that their condition is improved. They added that Gadkari assured to discuss the issue with his Ministry officials and inform the Chief Minister.
Omar sought construction of four tunnels in Jammu and Kashmir to link important roads, which included a tunnel at Peer Ki Gali on Mughal Road, a tunnel to connect Singhpora in Kishtwar to Vailoo in Anantnag and two tunnels between Lolab-Bandipora and Sudh Mahadev-Marmat. He said these tunnels would serve as important centres of road connectivity for the people.
He briefed the Union Minister that this proposal too had been shared with his predecessor.
Omar sought declaration of Mughal Road as an alternate National Highway. Mughal Road connecting border districts of Rajouri and Poonch with Kashmir has been rendered as fair weather road. Again, Omar said, this proposal too was shared with the previous Minister.
The Chief Minister sought Central assistance for construction of five new Fly Overs in Jammu and Kashmir by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) at Shalteng, Sanatnagar and Bemina in Kashmir, Greater Kailash and Kalibari in Jammu. He also raised the issue for construction of two Ring Road under NHDP in Jammu and Srinagar cities and wanted that the two projects should be taken up early by the NHAI.
Omar also discussed with Gadkari the early completion of projects taken up by the BRO and BEACON and PMGSY roads. He said the Centre should sanction special road projects for Jammu and Kashmir under the `Militancy Hit Project’ Scheme.
The Chief Minister, in his meeting with Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, which was also the first after the NDA Government assumed charge, expressed reluctance on giving any deadline for implementing the Food Security Act as the new law will not include the entire poor people in the State who are at present covered under the current PDS mechanism.
Since Jammu and Kashmir is one of the few States, where universal Public Distribution System (PDS) has been in force since 2002 covering every poor family in the State, it is facing a shortfall of 5,953 tones of food grains in a month, sources said, adding that Omar said the State Government due to a variety of reasons was not in a position to implement Food Security Act in Jammu and Kashmir.
Even during UPA-II tenure of which Omar’s National Conference was a partner, the State Government had refused to implement the Food Security Act despite pressures from the Congress. The UPA-II had introduced Food Security Act at fag end of its tenure. The NDA Government has also endorsed it.
Omar urged Paswan for higher food grain allocation for the State to meet the demand of people.
The Chief Minister also discussed difficulties being faced by the State in implementing the new Food Law. While every poor family in the State is covered under the universal PDS at present, the new Food Security Act will exclude some of them and quantity of ration will also come down to 25 kg per family from 35 kg at present.
All States were to implement the Food Law that gives legal right over subsidized food grain to poor people by July 4. Later, all States were given three more months to implement the law.
Asked when the State plans to implement the new food law, Omar said: “we are not committing anything right now. As of now, implementation of the food security law actually puts us at a disadvantage in terms of amount of ration that I can supply to people.
“At the moment, we are not committing for any date for the roll-out of the Food Security Law.”
He further said that these issues were flagged before the Food Minister. He also expressed the hope that the Centre will take a “sympathetic view” of this issue.
The Chief Minister said Jammu and Kashmir faces a deficit in food grain production. Buffer stock of essential food items, fuel, petroleum and kerosene are required considering severe winter and inaccessibility of areas.
Paswan said the Centre recently had announced release of additional 50 lakh tones of rice through PDS to provide relief to poor from the rising prices.
“Out of this, the State will get 43,000 tones of rice,” he said after the meeting.
“We have also decided to release 1,165 tones of food grains for Amarnath yatris and 6,000 tonnes for welfare institutes,” Paswan said, adding that it was also decided to provide subsidized food grains for nomads, who remain jobless for six months in peak winter.
“The State Government should put the request for these six months in advance,” he said.
Besides other issues, Omar sought complete waiver of Rs 70 crore interest on last 10 years payment that is due to Food Corporation of India. On this, the Union Minister assured that the issue will be taken before the Cabinet.
According to State’s recent Economic survey, around 22 lakh persons falling under BPL category are from rural areas while the other 2.21 lakh persons are living in urban areas.
The State at present gets 63,067 tones of food grains per month from the Centre for 18.02 lakh families as per 2000 census whereas it is distributing to 19.72 lakh families thereby resulting in a monthly shortfall of 5,953 tonnes of food grains.
In his meeting with Paswan, CAPD and Transport Minister Mohammad Ramzan and Commissioner/Secretary CAPD Baseer Ahmad Khan were also present.
PTI adds from New Delhi:
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said: “it is “too early” to say whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi has won the heart of the people of the state, Jammu and Kashmir.
After a meeting with Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Omar was asked whether the Prime Minister was able to win the heart of people after his recent visit to the State.
“It has hardly been a month for the new Government. Let’s wait and see. How can I say whether he has succeeded in winning the heart of the people in a month’s time? It’s too early to say,” he replied to a question from reporters.
During his visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Modi had said he had gone there to win the heart of the people of the State.
Omar said with a smile that “the Ministers whom I have met so far talk good things about the State. They have said they cannot ignore the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We need to see how they will work on this issue (winning the heart of the people).”
Omar refused to say what he had discussed with Congress President Sonia Gandhi yesterday about the future of his party National Conference’s alliance with Congress.
Terming price rise as a “national issue”, Omar said the State stands firm behind the Centre’s decision to crack down on hoarders and “we will do whatever possible to solve it”.
“Obviously, the Central Government is concerned about hoarding as reason for price rise. We do not believe that the products that are seeing price rise can be linked totally to hoarding because they are largely perishable commodities and one cannot hoard them for more than a few days.
“So, there are reasons other than hoarding for price rise. If the Centre needs to look at hoarding as a problem, we have assured the Central Government that we will take all the steps to minimize the impact of hoarding”, he said.
He said price rise was not confined to one State. “Of course, it is an issue in the State as well. That’s why we want the Centre to take necessary steps.”
On the State’s preparedness for deficient monsoon, Omar said: “we are largely a subsistent agriculture state. We do not have surplus agriculture production. Therefore, if the monsoon is going to be as bad as it is projected to be, then unfortunately we will be even more dependent on the Centre for allocation of food grains.”
He said the State will be able to assess the impact of rains on agricultural production only after monsoon reaches the State.
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