Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 23: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti without naming Pakistan or separatists today said an atmosphere was created against people of Kashmir leading to loss of lives and hampering of developmental process.
While addressing a gathering in Kulgam, Mehbooba said that poisonous atmosphere was created in Kashmir. “In rest of the world, the children take up pen, book in their hands but an atmosphere was created against us wherein our children were handed over stone in their hands instead of book and gun instead of pen. A gun costs Rs 6 lakh but pen costs only Rs 10, 15 or 20. Not pen but gun was given to them and not book but stone was given to them which turned whole atmosphere poisonous”, she said.
The Chief Minister said that many lives were lost and developmental process was brought to standstill. “Many lives were lost in this turmoil and an era of development which we had started also came to standstill”, she said.
She said that the Government could have carried out various developmental progammes but they got stuck due to last year’s unrest but assured them the development is the top priority of the Government.
Mehbooba, who was on a day’s visit to the district, kick started several developmental projects worth Rs 57 crore here today.
The Chief Minister inaugurated a 10 MVA receiving station at Behibagh set up at a cost of Rs 5 crore. She also inaugurated a 6.30 MVA Kilam receiving station through on line mode. Together set up at a cost of Rs 10 crore, the two receiving stations would benefit people of about nine habitations in the area in terms of load stabilization, regulated power supply and improved voltage. The two receiving stations would also indirectly benefit about 40 to 50 villages, including many in Shopian district, in terms of improved power supply.
Mehbooba also threw open Tengam Tengbal Water Supply scheme with a capacity of one Million Gallon Daily built at a cost of Rs 14.22 crore. The scheme would suffice the drinking water needs of around 32 thousand souls of the area for next 30 years. At Adjan, the Chief Minister laid the foundation of 484 metre multi span Adjen-Damhall bridge over Vishow nallah.
It may be recalled here that a small bridge measuring 30 metres had been planned at the place over a small tributary but the new bridge would connect about 32 villages in the area and would be built at a cost of Rs. 20 crore. It would be completed within two years.
Later at Damhall, the Chief Minister inaugurated the 45 metre additional span of a bridge on Damhall-Laisoo road. Completed at a cost of Rs 2.80 crore, the bridge, which was damaged in the floods of 2014, would connect around 30 thousand people of 27 villages.
Interacting with people on the occasion, Mehbooba said she has directed the concerned agencies to complete the works before the deadline schedule. She said the area would be developed in terms of tourist attractions as it has a huge potential of river rafting, hiking and adventure tourism. She said once tourism picks up it would help a great deal in addressing unemployment problem in the area.
Responding to local demands, the Chief Minister assured the people that adequate staff would be posted at the local hospitals. She also announced that improvement of roads like Pahloo-Damhal and other roads would also be undertaken besides other developmental activities in the area.
In the last leg of her visit, Mehbooba visited Asthal where she laid the foundation of a 3 x 40 metre span steel girder bridge on Chalan-Asthal road. The bridge on completion in 2019 would benefit about ten thousand souls of four villages and would be completed at a cost of Rs. 9.95 crore.
During her day long tour of the district, scores of people at several places met the Chief Minister, Mehbooba today, apprised her about their problems and sought their redressal.
A Behi Bagh after inaugurating a receiving station, a large number of people met the Chief Minister and apprised her about their problems. They sought upgradation of the local school, augmentation of manpower and facilities at the local health centre and addressing the drinking water needs. They also sought opening of a bank branch in their village.
The Chief Minister directed immediate examination of the issues putforth with her and in time redressal of the same by the district administration.
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