Excelsior Correspondent
DODA, Feb 8: All Party Action Committee of Chenab Valley Autonomous Hill Development Council (CVAHDC) has alleged step-motherly treatment with Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban area.
In a meeting of the Council held today under the chairmanship of Ex-MP Sheikh Abdul Rehman, the speakers discussed at length several issues pertaining the Chenab Valley region and discriminatory treatment meted out to the three districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban. The speakers criticized the NC-led Coalition Government for over looking the plight of most backward, snowbound, remote, hilly and drought prone area of Chenab belt.
They pointed out that the area lags behind in all the spheres of life as compared with the other districts in the State, be it literacy rate, road connectivity, BPL strength, educational institutions or other infrastructural related facilities. Entire belt is rich in natural resources like minerals, forest wealth, tourism and hydel power potential to the extent of around 20,000 MWs. There is massive misuse of funds being provided under Centrally sponsored schemes and there is no accountability at all.
The Council members further alleged that local legislators are playing double role with regard to grant of Hill Development Council. On one hand they simply issue statements in support of it for public consumption whereas, on the other hand they have managed to sabotage it because they don’t want decentralization of power on Leh and Kargil pattern. Mr Rehman exhorted upon the legislators of the Chenab Valley region to introduce the Bill in the State Assembly during the coming Budget session, otherwise CVAHDC will be compelled to field its own candidates in the next Assembly elections.
Ram Singh Chauhan, Amri Versha, Sheikh Mohd Sofi, Jia Lal Parihar, Kotwal Hans Ram and Azhar Kichloo were also present.
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