After much noise about two rotational capital cities to get Smart City status, we are disappointed to know that none of the two figures in the fresh list of 27 Smart Cities released by the Union Government. This is the second list released by the Union Government. The Government has fixed some norms for granting Smart City Status to the 100 proposed cities in the country.
Both Srinagar and Jammu have seen large scale unplanned urban development that does not provide much of civic amenities to the people living in these two cities. Srinagar has witnessed large scale movement of civilian population from rural areas to the city. This was perhaps the result of twenty-seven year long armed insurgency that erupted in the valley and spread to other parts of the State especially in the hilly regions of Poonch, Rajouri, and Kishtwar. Jammu also did not witness much of planned township. Many people living along the border with Pakistan were forced to migrate to Jammu to escape regular shelling and firing by Pakistani Rangers and intrusion of jihadi fidayeen. Consequently great demographic pressure is on Jammu besides the influx of Kashmiri migrants. All these circumstances should have been taken into consideration and the two cities should have been included among the list of fresh Smart Cities.
Non inclusion of the two cities has sent a wave of disappointment to the people of the State. We shall have to wait for some more time before the Union Government will reconsider granting status of Smart Cities to the two capital cities of the State. We are expecting a just and equitable decision by the Union Government.
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