Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, while addressing a public rally in Udhampur, stated a broad view of her Government’s policy towards various issues facing the State. Most part of her address dealt with the developmental activities asserting that her Government was committed to revive the deferred projects along with new projects floated either by the Union or the State Government. In the beginning she expressed that conspiracies were hatched to destabilize the Coalition Government by some anti social elements who were out to rake up communal tension. She, however, did not give any clue to who these elements were and what retaliatory action her Government was planning to counter their nefarious designs.
The Chief Minister said that if she were given five years of peaceful administration, she would make J&K a model State in the Indian Union. Obviously, she was appealing the disruptive forces in the State as well as the political opposition to allow her space and opportunity of floating such ambitious and thrilling schemes in the State as would transform this hilly backward State into a model for all the other States of the country. We only pray and wish that disruptive and divisive elements make some introspection and let the people enjoy the developmental vision of the Chief Minister. Peace is the pre-requisite for development in building infrastructure like road network, power, water, hospitals, job opportunities etc.
The CM repeated her comments on Indo-Pak relations mostly in the context of its impact on the State of Jammu and Kashmir. J&K is a very sensitive State. It comprises three regions which are fully divergent from one another in terms of geography, climate, topography, language, culture, life style and historical back ground. To keep the three divergent regions tied together in one unit and to cater to their needs equitably and justifiably is not that easy. Without going into the nitty-gritty of the question of equitable treatment to these regions, Chief Minister conceded that at least in terms of tourism, Jammu had not received its proper share. She would see to it that new tourist destinations were developed in Jammu as well as Ladakh region. Her statement carried added weight because she also holds the charge of the Department of Tourism. She has identified the border sites of Suchetgarh and Chambalyal as sites worth developing. This is really fascinating because no Chief Minister has so far talked about developing a spot along the International Border as a tourist destination. She has the vision of turning Suchetgarh into another Wagah border crossing point and give it the same grace and status.
She once more emphasized upon India and Pakistan to understand the benefits of peace and good relationship that would occur and go in the interests of the people of both the countries including those in the State. She did make a passing reference to Pathankot air base attack but did not go on to consider such activities as obstruction to peace. She rather lauded both countries moving ahead to continue bilateral talk.
Speaking about power and water resources the Chief Minister said that her Government was keen to ensure that incomplete or deferred hydroelectric power projects were revived and infused with new life while new sources of generating power were simultaneously explored and exploited. She said that water was a very precious commodity and although most of the State had good number of water bodies to provide drinking water, yet districts like Kathua, Samba, Pulwama, Bandipur and Kupwara were facing hardship in water supply. She said she had instructed the concerned authorities to deal with this issue and come up with plans and projects to overcome shortage of drinking water.
Chief Minister said that she would be placing responsibility squarely on the shoulders of PHE department which was required to revive funding under NRDWP (National Rural Drinking Water Programme) to ensure quality water supply to rural habitations in the State. For this, the Chief Minister asked the Administrative Secretary to submit UCs on time so that further tranches are received from the Central Government. She also passed directions to accelerate access to quality water supply in all schools and anganwadi centres in the State.
The Chief Minister made a very cogent point saying that our State lagged behind in establishing industrial network that is always a key to economic and financial development besides creating employment opportunities for the youth.
By touching all the important issues, Mehbooba Mufti has conveyed that she has good understanding of the issues which she can prioritize and address.
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