Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 29: Expressing indignation over the official approval of just one ‘Smart City’ for the entire State by the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Development M Vankaiah Naidu in the National level conference of Urban Development Ministers of all the states, NPP leader Harshdev Singh prophesied another discriminatory doze in offing for the Jammu region.
Terming the announcement as sinister, Harshdev recalled that on the invitation of the Central Government J&K State had proposed the construction of four Smart Cities in January this year. Subsequently, the State Government had identified Jammu, Srinagar, Katra and Anantnag which were proposed by the Governor of J&K NN Vohra for the development of Smart Cities under the Rs 48,000 crores Central project for constructing 100 similar cities all across the country in expected collaboration with US, France, Singapore and Japan. Moreover, the BJP-PDP Govt in the State which was formed on March 1st this year, also candidly upheld the proposal of Smart Cities which had been sent to the Centre.
Surprisingly, UP had walked away with maximum share of 13 followed by Tamil Nadu 12, Maharashtra 10, Madhya Pradesh 7,Gujarat 6, and so on with Jammu & Kashmir getting merely 1. Harshdev reckoned that the solitary announcement of the Smart City in J&K would become a bone of contention between the two regions and further widen the fissure as the selected city would be equipped with IT enabled services empowering modern public transport system, crime control procedure, emergency and health services, single window system for trade and commerce besides having round the clock water and power supply with world class roads and telecom services.
Mr Singh wondered on the alleged political incompetency and inefficiency of Dr Nirmal Singh who holds the charge of the Urban Development Ministry in the Government of J&K for his gross failure to persuade the Union Minister during the conference to announce the development of 4 smart cities in J&K as assured earlier on the rationale that the State has distinct 6 month rotational capitals for which Jammu and Srinagar need to be developed as Smart Cities while Katra and Anantnag deserve the same for attracting lakhs of pilgrims every year.
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