‘New projects to prove game changer for region’
Avtar Bhat
DODA, Mar 11 : Lambasting Congress and National Conference (NC), Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh today alleged that erstwhile district Doda was brazenly neglected by them during their rule at Centre and in the erstwhile State of J&K for about seven decades.
Addressing a mammoth public rally here today, the Union Minister took a jibe at the leaders of the two parties saying after the people have ousted them from power they have started shedding crocodile tears to bemoan the neglect of the Doda region for which they were themselves responsible.
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Hitting out hard at two parties, Dr Jitendra Singh said unlike them BJP did not discriminate on the basis of vote bank and gave equal treatment to every area in development.
He recalled the sequence of events and said, ever since independence, there was not a single occasion when the MLAs or the MPs from this region did not find a strong position in the State Cabinet or the Union Cabinet, but the apathy by these elected representatives is evident from the fact that they did not even attend to the development of their own native places.
Dr Jitendra Singh, while refurbishing the allegations of these parties said those who say no development has taken place in the region during last nine years should verify from Google and they will themselves realize the difference. “Even a child can understand this,’” he added.
The Union Minister said everything is evident and people can themselves judge. The work on mega road projects, tunnels and power projects in the region is on full swing at present which will turn a game changer for this entire region, he added.
Citing example, he said, the first-ever Post Office and the first ever branch of Sate Bank of India was set up at Gandoh after 2014 and the first ever national project in Bhaderwah was established by the Modi Government in the form of National Institute of High Altitude Medicine.
Strongly rebutting those opposition leaders who say that all the development projects were initiated in this region before 2014, Dr Jitendra Singh said, “We live in an evidence based era when even before a leader finishes completing his speech, the common man listening to him tends to check the facts and figures on the Internet”. He claimed that only several new national level development projects were initiated after 2014 but many of such projects which had been stopped by the earlier Governments during the tenure of earlier MPs and MLAs have been revived now.
Enumerating examples, Dr Jitendra Singh said the Government Medical College in Doda was set up during his Parliamentary term after 2014 and so also the Khellani-Sudh Mahadev National Highway was started during his term. Not only this, he recalled that the Ganpat bridge which had been abandoned unfinished by the earlier Government and earlier elected representatives, was also completed during this term.
In nearby Kishtwar, Dr Jitendra Singh said not only a series of power projects were started in the last eight years including the 1000 MW Pakal Dul Project, 624 MW Kiru Project, 520 Kwar Project, 930 MW Kirthai Project, but also the 850 MW Ratle Project which had been stalled before 2014 has also been revived, as a result of which Kishtwar is going to turn into the biggest power hub of North India.
While the Congress and NC followed a policy of discrimination based on vote bank, Dr Jitendra Singh said, after 2014, we have tried to fulfil the requirement of every region regardless of whether they voted for us or not in the last election.
Citing example, he said while a Degree College was started in Kastigarh, it was simultaneously sanctioned for Marmat from where the non-BJP Parties received the maximum vote.
Dr Jitendra Singh announced that the construction of Chhatargala tunnel will be taken up under Bharat Mala scheme and will be part of the new National Highway from Lakhanpur through Bani-Basohli up to Doda, Bhaderwah. This will be a game changer, he said.
“Under Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and as a member of his team, Dr Jitendra Singh said, we have tried to cultivate a new political culture based on objectivity and justice to all”’. For example, it is during this regime and his Parliamentary term that a network of PMGSY and CRF roads funded by the Centre has been spread even to the native towns and villages of the Congress and National Conference leaders. Similarly, he said, the benefits of people centric schemes like distribution of gas cylinders through Ujjwala Yojana and construction of houses under PM Kisan Yojana has been done for anyone who was needy regardless of his caste, creed, religion or vote preference.
DDC Chairman Dhananter Singh, former Minister Shakti Raj Parihar and former MLA Dilip Singh among other also addressed the gathering. All of them hailed the fact that after 2014 under the Modi Government ever since Dr Jitendra Singh had been elected the MP the scale of development works was much more than the past 60 to 70 years.
Later, Dr Jitendra Singh chaired a review meeting to assess the pace of development works on mega projects under execution of NHIDCL, NHPC and GREF in DC Office complex.
At the outset, District Development Commissioner Doda, Vishesh Mahajan gave a presentation on the achievements and progress recorded by BRO (GREF) and NHIDCL in creating and augmenting road infrastructure in Doda and Kishtwar districts. NHPC authorities also gave detailed and project wise information to the Minister. It was informed that Hydro Electric Project (HEP) Keru shall be ready for commissioning by 2024, while HEP Kwar and HEP Pakal Dul shall be ready by 2026 and 2027 respectively.
Under NHIDCL, Sudhmahadev Dranga Tunnel, Goha-Khellani road, Khellani- Khanabal road, Khellani Tunnel, Sangpura- Vailo tunnel were discussed and informed that work is in progress and all the projects shall come up in prescribed time.
Dr Jitendra Singh, while addressing the demand of local representatives regarding allocation of employment in the mega projects for the local unemployed youth, has directed DC Kishtwar, Dr Devansh Yadav to ensure that all get their due share in employment in all the Government projects under NHPC and NHIDCL.
The Minister reiterated that it is the endeavour of the present Government led by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to trickle down the benefits of all the Centrally sponsored schemes to the deserved lot and to the last person in the queue.
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