Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 1: The alarming power situation in Pakistan should serve as warning for India to strengthen its electricity generation capabilities to meet future needs, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said today.
“(The worsening power situation in Pakistan) is a lesson for us… To focus on power generation to safeguard our future,” Omar told a public gathering at Delina, 55-km from here on the Srinagar-Muzaffarbad road.
He earlier inaugurated a Rs 82.70 crore grid station and the 220KV double circuit Zainkote-Amargarh transmission line which is set to enhance net available capacity in north Kashmir from the present 160MW to 300 MW.
It will also augment supply in parts of Budgam and Srinagar districts.
The newly-inaugurated transmission line is a first-of-its -kind in the Valley wherein specially designed multi-circuit towers will simultaneously carry four circuits of 220KV each.
Talking about the dangers of not augmenting electricity generation, Omar said the people of Pakistan have to face daily power cuts of up to 22 hours.
“I remember, more than a decade back, (when) India was facing a power shortage, Pakistan was approached for supply of some 500MW to India (although an agreement) did not materialise due to some political reasons.
“Now, Pakistan is approaching India to get 500MW,” he said.
Taking PDP leadership to task for duping their voters by remaining absent from the legislature proceedings and denying their constituents the democratic right to be heard in the highest forum of the State, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today asked the people to ensure permanent eviction of PDP legislators from the Legislative Assembly in next general elections.
“PDP leadership love to remain away from Assembly and prefer talking outside of it, they should be given full opportunity of this nature during the six years following general elections”, he said adding that they need to be replaced by the persons who are public friends and enthusiastic to serve people meaningfully and making government answerable on all fronts.
The Chief Minister told the people to teach a befitting lesson to PDP legislators including those from Baramulla, Sangrama and Pattan for ignoring their legitimate duty to highlight public grievances in the Legislature and getting relief for them. “These people deserve to be kept out of the Legislature business as they themselves prefer this style of functioning”, he added.
Expressing surprise over the bizarre and brazen approach of Pen-Inkpot (election symbol of PDP) party legislators for remaining in the vanguard in receiving those who return from PoK under the Rehabilitation Policy formulated and implemented by his Government with the consent of Union Government.
Omar said that PDP and its legislators when in power, torpedoed the Resolution brought by MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami and supported by National Conference in the Legislative Assembly for honourable return of youth, who had gone to PoK but had not taken gun to indulge in violence. “PDP denied the youth of Kashmir the chance of return and to live a peaceful life despite raising false slogan of ‘Healing Touch”, he said adding that when opportunity came to PDP’s way to deliver on the promises they, failed miserably which is amply visible before the people.
“Now, under the appeasement attitude which is the trait of this party (PDP), its legislators are seen in front row to welcome those returning from PoK”, he said and cited the example of a PDP MLA who was seen in the front while receiving Liyaqat Khan. He also reminded the people of the announcement made by PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayed in Ganderbal as the then Chief Minister asking gun-wielding youth to surrender saying “your representatives (PDP leadership) have come to the power”.
The Chief Minister said that all are witness to the miserable treatment these youth got during the tenure of Mufti Mohammad Sayed Government. “Not only this, their next of kin and family members were black listed for grant of passports and Government employment by the PDP leadership who unfortunately talked about healing touch from the top of their voice”, Omar said adding that his Government in real sense soothed their wounds by delisting the families of militants from the black list and providing opportunity of return to those who had not resorted to violence and guns.
Omar said that PDP leadership only cried hoarse on important issues and raised hollow slogans to appease people. “But it was my Government which delivered positively and effectively to provide relief to people and address political and development matters with commitment and without making any noise”, he said.
Maintaining that peace is the key to development and settlement of all issues, Omar said that by the active cooperation of people his Government has been able to restore tranquillity in the State and give good-governance. “The achievements of my Government on both peace and development fronts are speaking loudly”, he said and referred to various new initiatives taken by his Government to empower common people, bring Government under public scan, ensure transparency, give good-governance and reach out people across the State equitably.
He also referred to the enactment and implementation of historic Public Service Guarantee Act and said that he has authorized common people to legally demand some 70 public services identified under the Act in a fixed time frame. He said by implementing this Act a common person cannot be now compelled to grease the palm of Government official for getting driving license, revenue papers, building permission, State subject, water supply or power connection, copy of FIR, CID and Police verification for passport and similar scores of such other public services having direct impact on governance. He said any Government functionary found responsible for delay or denying any of these services within a prescribed time limit is liable for a fine and a part of that fine would be given to the affected consumer as compensation.
The Chief Minister also referred to Right to Information Act and other initiatives taken by his Government to curb corruption at the lower level asking people to take best advantage of these measures and help in making administration free from malpractices and corruption.
Omar said that the achievements registered during the last over four years on peace and development front could be further strengthened by strengthening tranquillity. He asked people to continue extending their cooperation to his Government for maintaining calm and moving ahead on road to progress and development.
Omar, who is also Working President of National Conference, asked the workers to reach out all areas in the district and help redressal of public grievances by becoming important link between the Government and the people. He said the historic measures taken by his Government for the betterment of people and the State besides those relating to restoration of peace need to be popularized. “You have to reinforce your cadre and make Baramulla fortress of National Conference”, he told them.
The Chief Minister also referred to unemployment crisis and said that besides providing opportunities of service to youth in Government sector, steps have also been taken to encourage them to launch their own ventures in private sector and create respectable livelihood for themselves and many of their brethren.
Follow our WhatsApp channel