Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 17: Various Jammu based organizations have strongly reacted to the remarks of the Chief Minister with regard to the shelving of Tawi Artificial Lake project and construction of AIIMS only in Kashmir.
Strongly criticizing the anti-Jammu mindset of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for shelving the prestigious Artificial Tawi Lake project, general secretary of All Jammu Hotels & Lodges Association Pawan Gupta said that the Jammuites were never expecting such biased decision from the Chief Minister of the State, who is supposed to treat all the three regions equally.
Talking to media persons, Mr Gupta who was flanked by Baldev Raj, ML Sharma, HS Manhas and Sunil Suri said that people got stuck with sudden, insensitive and whimsical decision of Chief Minister for shelving the Artificial Lake project on the flimsy ground. “Mufti is neither a technical man nor an economist. How he can say that it is not feasible on technical or other grounds. The fact remains that the lake project was approved in 1986 by the then Governor after getting clearance from the then technical experts, which cannot be challenged at this stage, when the project is nearing its completion,” he added.
Reminding Mufti about his promises made during elections, he said that Mufti himself publically promised in a function at KC Residency, when he was addressing the prominent citizens of Jammu to complete all ongoing Jammu projects, including this prestigious Artificial Lake project but it is unfortunate that he (Mufti) has taken U-turn in this specific issue.
Meanwhile, activists of Dogra Front and Shiv Sena under the leadership of Ashok Gupta took out a procession in Jammu city against the shelving of the multi-crore Artificial Lake project on river Tawi and denial of AIIMS Hospital to Jammu region by Mufti Sayeed.
Mr Gupta criticized Mufti led Coalition Govt for not taking up the issue of AIIMS for Jammu with the Union Government. CM’s remarks to abandon prestigious artificial lake project in Jammu are anti-Jammu. On the issue of prestigious lake project on river Tawi which is aimed at beautification of the city of temples in order to attract the tourist and pilgrims visiting the state, Mr Gupta said the decision of the State Government is most unfortunate and condemnable.
“The decision is absurd when around Rs 55 crores have already been spent and the project was to be completed in March 2016,” he said adding, that there is no justification for abandoning the project after spending crores of rupees and completing most of the important components of the project.
If the decision has been taken to appease Pakistan who might have objected on the construction of the lake on Tawi, then it’s really unfortunate and a probe must be ordered on this and a White Paper must be issued on this explaining the factors for the cancelling of the Lake project, Ashok Gupta stated.
Meanwhile, Congress leader and former MoS, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma strongly condemn the statement of the Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed over the opening of AIIMS at Srinagar and shelving of Artificial Lake over Tawi in Jammu. It shows that the approach of present BJP and PDP coalition Government is totally against the people of Jammu province. The genuine demand of AIIMS for Jammu is going to be sabotaged by PDP due to negligence of BJP.
Dr Sharma further criticized the deliberate attempt of State Government to close this prestigious artificial lake project of Jammu city without any genuine reason. The State Government has taken suo-moto decision without going through the advice of technical agency to close this prestigious project. This announcement has hurt the sentiments of Jammu People.
Dr Sharma questioned the BJP and its leadership particularly Dr Nirmal Singh DyCM who has remained a mute spectator while the important issues related to Jammu are deliberately being ignored. Why he remains silent in each and issue of Jammu province and CM Mufti Mohd Sayeed speaks openly against the interest of Jammu as well as the Nation is a serious development and the people must take note of it.
PCC general secretary, Namrta Sharma while launching membership drive here today alleged that BJP has sold off the development projects of Jammu. She said that shifting of AIIMS to Kashmir and shelving of Tawi lake project of Jammu as stated by the Chief Minister in presence of DyCM is most shocking decision for the people of Jammu region. She alleged that BJP leadership from Jammu seems to have totally surrendered before the PDP.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel