Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 6: Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jammu today declared that political empowerment of Jammu region was must for its economic development and Union Government must help in providing due share to the people of Jammu in all spheres of life.
The Jammu Chamber members who hosted a special lunch for the visiting AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi (MP) here today, in a memorandum submitted raised some burning issues connected with the over all economic development of the region. But at the same time they maintained that it was not possible without the political empowerment of the region which has been denied to the people of this region by the respective governments. The Chamber members referred to the geographical area, population and the number of seats in Jammu region as compared to the Kashmir valley and denial of due share in tourism, horticulture, electricity, road connectivity, education, health, rural development, jobs and various other sectors besides the distribution of funds.
CCI president, Y V Sharma, who submitting a memorandum to Rahul Gandhi on behalf of his organization, members of trade and industry and the people from Jammu region, sought his (Rahul’s) personal intervention in this regard and maintained that major issues like provision of expansion of Jammu Railway Station, establishment of Rail Coach factory at Jammu, setting up of an international airport near Jammu, revival of industrial package/ Excise duty, IT exemption in J&K and political empowerment to Jammu region was possible only with his intervention. He mentioned that balance of political power despite the repeated claims of the State Government of equal development of all the three regions of the State remains greatly titled in favour of one region. Various surveys and the reports of different commissions, committees and delegations appointed by the Central Government from time to time on the issue have given their unambiguous verdicts that there has been a great discrimination in the matter of development of Jammu region vis-à-vis Kashmir.
“There was great need to put in place a constitutional guarantee for the empowerment of Jammu region in keeping with the democratic rights of the people. This will ensure proper monitoring and equitable distribution of the Central and State funds for the equal development of all the three regions,” Mr Sharma maintained.
The Chamber members pointed out that rail connectivity to Rajouri-Poonch and Doda-Kishtwar was vital for the economic development and tourism growth in the area. The Central Government must take some initiative in setting up of mother industry at Jammu which can provide employment to thousands of youth from this region. There is huge power potential in the State due to major rivers and nallahs and it is needed to be exploited for becoming self reliant.
They stressed for raising more business centers, ware-houses, whole-sale markets, shopping centres etc in view of the increasing population and Jammu being the gateway and the prime supply centre for the entire Kashmir valley and Leh- Ladakh. Though Jammu Railway Station has been declared as model station but still the project is shelved/ delayed. The station should be expanded immediately with more platforms and allied facilities for the passengers. Jammu be given world class international airport, rail coach factory and good tourism infrastructure be provided at the tourists resorts and pilgrim-tourist destinations of Jammu region. Industrial package be revived and old traditional trade routes between Jammu-Sialkote and others cross LOC be opened between two neighbouring countries.
Mr Gandhi listened to the issues patiently and assured the Chamber members to take up the same with the concerned authorities. Later, a memento was presented to Mr Gandhi by the office bearers of the Jammu Chamber.
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