We would have very much appreciated if the Banihal-Qazigund rail tunnel link had been brought to completion much earlier. Nevertheless, the nation is grateful to 1500-strong team of engineers, technicians, skilled and unskilled labourers who worked tirelessly for seven long years in harsh climatic and physical conditions to bring a marvel of engineering to completion. Kashmir Valley now stand linked to the outside world through railway, though, of course, we have to wait for three more years before the remaining gap of Banihal-Udhampur rail link is connected. Jointly flagging off the first ever rail through the heart of the Pir Panchal, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi made history on the declensions of a mountain that hides in its bosom the millennia-old tumultuous saga of Kashmir’s relations with the world outside.
Sonia Gandhi made it known that New Delhi was fully aware of the needs and aspirations of the people of Kashmir and was determinedly responding to them. The subject of providing quality education and employment opportunities to the youth and freedom to the women of Kashmir for participation in building new society were the goals that UPA Government was trying to reach. She took the occasion to shower all praises on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his Government for the achievements NC-Congress coalition Government has made during its ongoing tenure in the office. She referred to various centrally sponsored developmental projects for the State like PM’s Gramin Sadak Yojna that would connect far-flung areas of the state to road network grid. This included construction of the Mughal Road and widening of the existing NH to four lanes and many other internal links
Both UPA Chairperson and the Prime Minister publicly assured the people of the State that Central Government would provide its full support to the J&K State for development and prosperity. It goes to the credit of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to have created space for the coalition Government at the highest level and won the goodwill of the Prime Minister and the UPA Chairperson. Nearly 64 developmental works were sanctioned for the State out of which 32 are reported to have been completed and the remaining are in a process of completion. Assurances of support given by the PM and Sonia Gandhi should help the State Government in formulating new schemes of uniform development in all the three regions of the State.
It is a historical day in the sense that it puts end to thousands of years of history of isolation of Kashmir owing to physical barriers. With the coming of railway, indeed a revolution is in offing that will change the economy, life style and also the frozen mindset of the people. It will open up vistas of vision and future prosperity on the people of landlocked valley. The sense of isolation or alienation will gradually disappear and a New Kashmir will be born in real sense of the term. As the top leadership in the country is committed to providing all possible support to the progress of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, the onus is now with the State Government and the people to make the best of this opportunity. A number of centrally sponsored projects remain incomplete. Many other projects launched by the State Government with its own resources or through grants and loans from the Central Government have become victims of mismanagement and incompetence. It is the State Government that has to do good homework. Just asking for and receiving more funds means little if these are not properly utilized within the time frame. There is still about a year left for the parliamentary and assembly elections and the State Government should accelerate the pace of development, bring pending projects to completion, tighten accountability and streamline good governance. People should not be given opportunity of labeling the largesse of the central leadership as election oriented move. Achievements are appreciable only when they reach and touch on the common man. Government’s attention has to be focused on some vital services like power, health, education, accountability etc. Never before were relations between the State and the Centre as cordial as these are today. As such the State Government should try to avail of this opportunity in building a new and prosperous State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a large gathering in Kishtwar on the occasion of inauguration of 850 mw Rattle Hydroelectric Power Station, Prime Minister declared more relief to the State by increasing the power quota from Northern Grid by 150 mw to meet the shortage. Reacting to recent attack on an army vehicle the PM said the nation was united against terrorism and our democratic system was powerful enough to meet any threat. The Prime Minister and the UPA Chairperson, both have exuded praise for the State Government and the impression is carried that in all probability the two parties will develop understanding of strategy in conducting parliamentary and assembly elections in near future. However, at the same time he hinted at the need of better financial management in the State. In his power point presentation the Chief Minister reiterated various suggestions about internal security and external policy affecting Kashmir situation. The presentation was effective and naturally it should pave the way for concretizing relations between NC and Congress and chalking out future strategy of cooperation and collaboration. The Chief Minister had a right to claim some meaningful achievements during past few years of his Government like the holding of panchayat elections, passing several laws lending to good governance, bringing in certain measures aimed at reforming institutions etc. Prime Minister announced sanctioning of some major plans like electric transmission lines to Ladakh at a cost of over 1659 crore rupees besides many other projects.
The visit of the Prime Minister, the UPA Chairperson and the entire official entourage to Kishtwar also shows the interest Congress party is exhibiting in that region’s development since the Chenab Valley had remained somewhat neglected during the past decades. The visit augurs well for expeditious and uniform development of all the three regions of the State. This, indeed, is an achievement of the coalition Government and the Chief Minster in person.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel