I have seen a recent news report (Daily Excelsior of 17th June, 2014) which reflects your concern about the recurring road accidents which take a very heavy toll in J&K, year after year. It is reported that you have suggested the establishment of an expert group to study and recommend the required remedial measures.
I have also been seriously concerned about the very large number of accidents which take place on our roads. Nearly a thousand persons are being killed and several thousand injured every year! In this context, I had, after a number of discussions with the concerned State Government authorities, addressed the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways to depute a team of experts to study our problems and advise our concerned authorities.
In the foregoing context, about two years ago, I had arranged for a group of Central experts to meet senior representatives of all the concerned State Government Departments at the Raj Bhavan. Later, I had also suggested to the Chief Minister to establish an Empowered Task Force to deal with each factor which contributes to the recurring accidents and enforce strict accountability of all stakeholders. I was subsequently informed that the State Government has decided to prepare a Road Safety Policy and a Bill for the creation of the Road Safety Council. This would, obviously, take quite some time. Meanwhile, 25,945 road accidents took place in the last three years (2011-14), leading to the death of 4,322 innocent persons, young and old.
In my view, the stage has come to go far beyond merely conveying sympathy to the next of kin of those who lose their lives in the recurring fatal accidents. While I shall continue to urge the State Government to take effective action to deal with this extremely worrying problem, I feel that it would strengthen the cause if you were to appropriately raise this issue with the concerned Central agencies and also goad your ministerial colleagues in the State Government to implement tangible measures.
Text of Reply by Ghulam Nabi Azad:
I acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated July 7, 2014 conveying therein your serious concern about the large number of accidents, as also enlisting the steps that the State Government, due to your keen interest and able guidance, is under-way to take to bring down the occurrence of road accidents.
As you have rightly mentioned, road fatalities have shown rapid spurt in our State and this is a matter of deep concern for all the citizens of the State. In this regard, I would like to inform you that I also took up the matter with the Chief Minister of the State about two years ago, urging him to lend due attention to this humanitarian issue.
While deeply appreciating your initiative and pro-active approach to facilitate the setting up of a coherent mechanism to enforce discipline on roads and contain the occurrence of accidents, I also take this opportunity to convey my sincere gratitude for your priceless efforts on behalf of the people of the State.
Taking note of your valuable suggestions, I would like to assure you that the matter will be taken up vigorously with the concerned Central Government agencies, besides counseling the Congress Ministers of the State Government to display alacrity and sensitivity in implementing the proposed ‘action plan’ worked out, after thorough deliberations and consultations, under your kind guidance.
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