Jammu and Kashmir is a good place to be in the election year. From an international trade centre to declaring J&K a special education zone
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is a good place to be in the election year. From an international trade centre to declaring J&K a special education zone, to increasing credit flow, to better road networking, the state government is trying hard to woo the people and secure a second term in office.
Since last month, several central leaders have embarked on ‘Mission Kashmir’ to throw baits to the voters and help Ghulam Nabi Azad secure a second innings. From Jairam Ramesh to Sonia Gandhi and now the prime minister, the Centre is playing all its cards to help Azad battle the odds.
The Centre, in partnership with the state government, is establishing the International Trade Centre (ITC) at a cost of Rs30 crore. The special education zone, increasing the Rs8,000 crore credit flow to people from banks, tapping the herbal potential of J&K, helping students find jobs in BPOs, and bringing state on the IT map are the other projects being implemented.
The Centre has also been gracious enough in doling out money to the beleaguered chief minister. According to estimates, Rs2,000 crores would be spent on construction of 3,070 kms of roads in the next three years. Another Rs1,230 crore is being spent for constructing expressways, bridges, flyovers and by-passes in the twin capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu.
“Jammu & Kashmir is currently witnessing an unprecedented era of infrastructure building. The government, with liberal Central assistance, is raising
infrastructure on a massive scale throughout the state,” said Ghulam Nabi Azad, J&K chief minister.
Under attack from his opponents, Azad said for the last 60 years people of the state had seen that hollow slogans do not take them anywhere. “Destructive politics had ruined thousands of households. It is just a matter of time when the negative and destructive politics will be given a burial and development provided a congenial atmosphere to carry on,” he said
The J&K government is now pinning hopes on prime minister Manmohan Singh who is visiting Jammu from April 25. Dr Singh is likely to commission a power project which will be another morale booster for Azad.
“The 390MW Dul-Hasti hydel project would be commissioned by the prime minister. 80% of the power deficiency will be covered this year while in next year-and-a-half the state would be self sufficient,” Azad said.
However, Kashmir Inc is not impressed. “We want our rights and not the packages. We will be presenting a memorandum to the prime minister listing our demands. We want the entire Kashmir to be declared a SEZ and an IFC (international financial centre),” said Dr Mubeen Shah, president, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).
h_ishfaq@dnaindia.net
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