Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 20: Seeking people’s cooperation in maintaining peace in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today promised them speedy march towards prosperity.
“Peace is pre-requisite to prosperity, and public support to maintain peace is fundamental necessity,” Omar said at a public meeting at Pattan in Baramulla district.
He thanked people for showing wisdom and maturity in helping the State Government contain the peace-inimical and disruptive forces and foiling their ill designs of dividing people.
Omar asked people to be vigilant against anti-peace elements and contribute positively in maintaining tranquillity and harmony in the State.
“I do not ask you for vote or anything else at present. I only want you to continue your support to me in maintaining peace and tranquillity in the State as the peace and harmony are important above everything and pre-requisite for development, employment and welfare of the people,” he said.
The Chief Minister said certain politicians wearing “black spectacles” refuse to see the sea-change brought about by the present dispensation on peace and development fronts.
“They feel unhappy to witness the success of the Coalition Government when they compare it to the failures in their tenure,” he said, referring to the leadership of opposition PDP.
Without naming PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the Chief Minister said a political leader who had been Home Minister of the country and the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir was now demanding 40 assembly seats to address Kashmir issue which he all together forgot when he was in power.
“This is yet another manipulation, deception and gimmick on the part of this political leader (Sayeed) who never talked of Kashmir issue when in chair as Chief Minister of the State and Home Minister of the country.
“They (PDP leadership) possess a set mind of willy-nilly obtaining power to relish it, otherwise they will not do anything even if given 80 Assembly seats,” he said.
Omar said the leadership of PDP is responsible for imposing AFSPA in the State – an act the Chief Minister is striving hard to get revoked.
Referring to recent events in Gool, Budgam and Kishtwar, he cautioned people against the designs of the vested interests who want to create conflict between Kashmir and Jammu, Hindu and Muslim and Shia and Sunni to polarise the society.
He said these elements become active when elections draw near so that they create hatred between various sections of the society for vote bank politics.
Omar said that despite having only 28 MLAs, National Conference with the help of its coalition partner Indian National Congress implemented historic Rehabilitation Policy for return of Jammu and Kashmiri youth from across the border who had not resorted to gun and wanted to live a peaceful life.
He referred to various initiatives taken by his Government for public empowerment and made special reference to the Public Services Guarantee Act. He said some 69 services of important public utility have been brought under the Act for time bound delivery. He asked the people to take benefit of the Act and get these services in a time bound manner.
“If you feel any delay or failure on the part of officials in delivering the services within the fixed time frame, initiate complaints against the erring officials, they would be handed over punishment and imposed fine upto Rs. 5000”, he said elaborating that the affected consumer would be paid compensation out of the fine imposed upon the erring official.
The Chief Minister said that services like issuance of State Subject, revenue papers, license, ration cards, water and electricity connections, registration of vehicles, issuance of FIR copy, CID verification, CID verification for passports and grant of house building permissions like 69 services have been brought under PSGA for public benefit.
The public meeting was addressed by Minister for Higher Education, Mohammad Akbar Loan, Legislator and Provincial President Kashmir, Nasir Aslam Wani, Legislator Javid Ahmad Dar and local leader Mohammad Ibrahim.
The Chief Minister earlier inaugurated Rs. 2.18 crore 1×24 metres span, 5.5 metres wide Carriageway Bridge with 0.75 metre footpaths on either side at Gund Khawaja Qasim on Singhpora-Kanihama road constructed by ERA under ADB funding.
It will act as a major link between Srinagar-Baramulla road and Narbal-Tangmarg-Gulmarg road via Gund Khawaja Qasim. The bridge will benefit a population of over 30,000 in the area. Its construction has provided 8,000 job days directly and 5,500 indirectly to the people.
Omar also laid foundation of Gund Khawaja Qasim Water Supply Scheme to augment and improve water supply facilities in the villages of Gund Khawaja Qasim, Habak Tangoo, Kantherbagh and Amargarh-Shaliboon in Pattan Tehsil. The foundation laying of this scheme is in sequel to the Chief Minister’s announcement for a new water supply scheme to Gund Khawaja Qasim at a public meeting at Trikulbal, Pattan in the month of May.
The scheme will benefit about 5000 population of in four villages by providing 55 litres of safe drinking water per person per day.
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