Srinagar, Feb 28: Peoples Democratic Party, the largest opposition party in the state assembly, said Sunday no problem would be solved unless the Kashmir issue was resolved.
“We have to go to the genesis of the problem which is resolution of Kashmir issue and every problem is linked to it,” said senior PDP leader Tariq Hameed Karra addressing the audience at a debate ‘Conversations for Change’ organised by BBC World Service Trust in collaboration with BBC Urdu Service.
Advocating abrogation of Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan, the former finance minister linked the problem of water and electricity to its abrogation.
“Our biggest problem of water and electricity would not be solved unless the Indus Water treaty will be abrogated,” Karra said.
“Water resources are being exploited for the past 40 years. Poor planning and short-sightedness by the government have affected the state,” Karra said.
Terming Baglihar project a ‘white elephant’, Karra said the National Conference led coalition government was finding it difficult to maintain the project.
Minister for Public Health Engineering and Irrigation Taj Mohi-u-din said the government has identified 1500 villages in Jammu and Kashmir where there was no electricity.
“The issue of electricity for these 1500 villages would be resolved in next two years,” he added.
On the issue of health care, Taj blamed doctors for prescribing drugs like peanuts and said that National Rural Health Mission would overcome most of the problems related to health issues.
Columnist Arjimand Talib said: “Our administrative reforms are long overdue in governance as our public delivery system is not good.”  According to Harpreet Kaur, project manager BBC World Service Trust the programme was aimed at encouraging and facilitating dialogue in Kashmir’s political culture by ensuring that Kashmiris have access to information and to discussion on governance issues.”

Lastupdate on : Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 1 Mar 2010 00:00:00 IST