Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 11: Calling for bold and visible measures to unshackle Kargil district from physical and economic constraints, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti today called for fast tracking of the construction of tunnel across Zojilla.
During an interaction with the delegation of citizens of Kargil, she urged the Union Government to get work on that the proposed tunnel at Zojilla started from Kargil side as well so that the facility is made available in minimum possible time.
Mehbooba said Kargil was one of those areas which had tremendous potential for growth but had remained backward as a result of the political apathy of those who had been elected on their vote. The only time the district voted for the party other than the NC in many decades was in 2002. It was then that the Hill Development Council was created and empowered for carrying on the developmental tasks.
She said it was unfortunate that the present Govt. has reversed the process of empowerment of this backward district with the result the development process has come to a standstill.
She said construction of tunnel was pursued by the PDP as part of its connectivity plan for better inter-regional transport between the three regions of Ladakh, Kashmir and Jammu. She said it was necessary that the construction of tunnel that has received approval is taken up from the both ends.
Mehbooba said in order to exploit potential of the region it was also necessary that Kargil-Skardu road is thrown open. She said the Governments of India and Pakistan had in principal agreed to do so. Once implemented this would revive not only the cultural contacts of Kargil with Gilgit and other northern areas but would also open up a whole world of trading opportunities to entire state.
Referring to the neglect that the Kargil district had suffered at the hands of the present dispensation, the delegation pointed out that a small 24 ft bridge Goma – Kargil that had been washed away in 2010 was still awaiting reconstruction. This, they said, only reflected the general attitude of apathy the administration has adopted towards Kargil. They also pointed out that in 2010 floods most of the Hagnis had been washed away but none of the residents had received any relief till now nor had any rehabilitation effort been under taken.
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