Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Mar 26: In order to reach out to the people of Srinagar city, the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said the city has remained and would continue be in the focus of her party’s “developmental agenda”.
Ahead of by-polls in Srinagar Parliamentary constituency, the Chief Minister while addressing party workers of Batmaloo and Amira Kadal Assembly segments at her Fairview residence here said the Srinagar city currently is facing huge challenges on account of civic infrastructure, housing congestion, heavy traffic, solid waste management and other civic issues.
She said her Government is seized of these problems and many mega or micro projects for city’s development have either been initiated or conceptualized. The Chief Minister said just recently she got the Rs 2100 crore ring road project for Srinagar city approved by the Centre and work on the same would start this year only. “Similarly many other big projects which have either ADB or World Bank funding are being started,” she said.
The PDP president termed peace pre-requisite for undertaking developmental activities, and said she is aware of the difficulties of people of Srinagar and those living in downtown city – the traditional hub of separatist activities. “People of the Srinagar city maintained peace despite provocations during the unrest of last year which needs to be appreciated,” she said.
The Chief Minister added: “I know the brunt you bore (during the unrest) as a majority of city dwellers are daily earners who faced difficulties but maintained calm.” She said she has planned to develop Srinagar city as a tourism destination in itself as it has a rich and varied heritage, shrines, handicrafts, scenic spots and water bodies besides adventure and cultural attractions.
“Under this plan, the old city would be developed as a heritage track showcasing all the features Srinagar city is known for world over. This would mitigate the problem of unemployment among youth to a large extent and give the economy of the city dwellers a boost who don’t have any other means of livelihood,” Mehbooba said.
Mehbooba said former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had a special love for Srinagar and would often refer to it as his ‘Dil’ (heart). “During the 10 months of his tenure as Chief Minister, Mufti sahib visited the city five times and even the last engagement he undertook was a long tour of the whole city,” she said in her address to the party workers.
Mehbooba said vote to the candidates of the Party would be “a declaration for the agenda of transformation and reconciliation in the State”. The PDP has nominated Nazir Ahmad Khan as candidate for Srinagar Lok Sabha seat that is scheduled to go for polls on April 9.
Meanwhile, asserting that Asserting only legacy that he has inherited from his father was the “dedication and passion” to work for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, PDP leader and Anantnag candidate for Lok Sabha seat in by-polls Tassaduq Hussain Mufti today assured youth of State that he would “struggle for their cause”.
“Some people say that our youth are misguided but I would say that they may just be disenchanted with dysfunctional system,” Tassaduq said while addressing youth workers of party at Pulwama. Urging the youth to channelize their energy in a positive manner, he said that he had come in the system to try and rectify the wrongs in it.
“The main reason for me joining the system is to rectify it and ensure that youth are the real beneficiary of the development process,” he said. Underlining that the youth of State are “feeling annoyed and exasperated with the system, which has many loopholes”, he emphasized:
“They feel their aspirations are not secured. There are wide loop-holes in the system that fuel the cycle of unemployment. I want to assure you that your struggle is my struggle.”
He assured the youth that he will work towards addressing the aspirations of people vis-a-vis the political system and added that he would strive to uphold the trust that people have shown in him. “Earlier business houses staked crores of rupees on my ability as a professional and I have proved myself there and didn’t disappoint those who trusted me.
“Now people have reposed their faith and expectations in me and I will strive to come up to their expectations,” he said. Referring to the ongoing development Projects being undertaken by the present dispensation, Tassaduq said that these have to be synchronized to address the problem of unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir.
“When we talk about finances we also refer to Rs 80,000 crore assistance secured by our alliance for the up-liftment of the State from the economic morass. My concern is that this money should be channelized to ensure job creation and improvement in the quality of life for our people,” Tassaduq said.
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