*Poor public infra mocks at equitable growth slogan
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 17: Unbelievable it may sound but it is a fact that despite contributing over Rs 7300 crore to the State exchequer every year, the erstwhile Doda district is lagging behind other districts of the State on the developmental front mainly because of indifferent attitude of the successive Governments. The poor public infrastructure clearly establishes that focus was always on exploitation of the resources in this belt of Jammu province instead of overcoming the developmental deficit.
As per the official figures, the power projects including Baglihar owned by Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation in the erstwhile Doda district (presently comprising of three districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban) generated revenue to the tune of Rs 7258.34 crore during 2014-15 financial year.
The contribution of power projects in erstwhile Doda district is much more than those projects of Power Development Corporation which have been established in Jhelum Basin, Tawi Basin, Ravi Basin and Indus Basin.
This can be gauged from the official figures, which reveal that cumulative revenue generated from other projects of Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) from January 1, 1998 to 2010-11 financial year was to the tune of Rs 1047.40 crore. The revenue generation from 2010-11 to 2015-16 was to the tune of Rs 506 crore from all the projects in Jhelum, Tawi, Ravi and Indus Basin.
Six projects in Jhelum Basin namely LJHP, USHP-II, USHP-I Sumbal, Ganderbal PH, Pahalgam PH and Karnah generated revenue to the tune of Rs 420.3 crore while as Chenab-I, Chenani-II and Chenani-III in Tawi Basin generated Rs 43.34 crore. Similarly, Sewa-III in Ravi Basin generated Rs 10.53 crore revenue and Igo Mercellong, Marpachoo, Haftal, Iqbal MHP Kargil, Sumoor, Hunder MHP, Bazgo MHP, Stakna and Sanjak projects in Indus Basin generated revenue of Rs 32.17 crore. The total revenue generated by all the power projects owned by JKSPDC outside erstwhile Doda district was to the tune of Rs 1553.74 crore, which is far less than Rs 7258 crore generated by State owned power projects in this belt of Jammu province.
Not only power projects, the erstwhile Doda district is also contributing to the State exchequer in forest and mineral sectors, sources said while disclosing that a revenue of Rs 1274.62 lakh was generated in the Forest Department from auction of trees/plants etc out of which Rs 32.97 lakh was generated and contributed to State exchequer from the trees/plants auctioned in erstwhile Doda district since the inception of Social Forestry Project.
Similarly, from the total timber sale of Jammu region during 2015-16 about 76% stocks were from the erstwhile Doda district yielding a revenue of Rs 37 crore. “Approximate VAT deposit from the sale proceeds of stocks of this belt is about Rs 5 crore”, sources added.
As far as minor minerals sector is concerned, this belt has contributed Rs 1,29,53,190 worth royalty to the State exchequer through Department of Geology and Mining during 2015-16 financial year. Likewise, the gypsum mines in Doda and Ramban districts generated revenue to the tune of Rs 368 lakh during 2015-16.
“However, despite generating Rs 7300 crore worth revenue for the State, the erstwhile Doda district has failed to get priority attention of the successive Governments”, sources regretted, adding “notwithstanding the tall claims of the successive dispensations this belt presently comprising of three districts is still lagging behind other districts of the State on the developmental front”.
They further said, “the poor public infrastructure is mocking at the slogans of equitable development”, adding “there is developmental deficit in almost all the sectors in this belt because of neglecting attitude of the successive rulers. The worst condition of roads, poor telecommunication link, un-electrified villages, poor health infrastructure are the testimony of discriminatory approach towards this belt”.
“Generally it is stated that 2% profit from the power projects should be utilized for the development of the district in which they are situated but the prevailing developmental scenario of erstwhile Doda district doesn’t indicate compliance to this provision”, sources regretted, adding “this is the high time for the Government to ensure that funds for the development of these three districts are increased considerably so as to uplift their developmental profile”.
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