Azad bats for Kargil under AMRUT

By
Daily Excelsior
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Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 19: Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and former Chief Minister J&K Ghulam Nabi Azad has sought inclusion of Kargil town under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) on the pattern of Leh.
Forwarding a letter received from Congress MLA from Kargil Asgar Ali Karbalaie to Union Minister for Housing and Urban Development Department Venkaiah Naidu, Azad welcomed inclusion of Leh under AMRUT but at the same time stressed that Kargil town should also be covered under the Central Scheme saying both the towns shared common characteristics in terms of altitude, connectivity, topography, population etc.
“I am told that Ministry of Urban Development has decided to cover Leh town under AMRUT which is very welcome and noteworthy development. However, the decision not to cover Kargil town under the Mission has disappointed the people of Kargil, fuelling a sense of anguish and alienation over there,” Azad regretted.
He said Leh town had been covered by previous UPA Government under JNNURM and a hefty amount of more than Rs 200 crores was spent for upgradation of urban infrastructure in the town.
“I would like to make it clear that it is desirable to spend as much money as is possible for creation of urban infrastructure in the beautiful and tourist town of Leh. However, it needs to be seen that Kargil town is treated with fairness and equity, especially in the light of the fact that Leh town has been granted due attention during UPA Government, Azad said.
He said that principles of equity and justice demand that similar priority should have been accorded to Kargil town for creation of urban infrastructure or in the alternate, Ministry of Urban Development should have agreed to cover both the towns of Ladakh region, viz., Kargil and Leh under AMRUT. “Regrettably, it has not done so.”
Interestingly, Azad said, this does not resonate well with the slogan of “Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas”, so enthusiastically expounded by the Prime Minister.

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