Ramban, Dec 26: Reiterating the resolve of his party to make Jammu and Kashmir an economically self-reliant State, former Chief Minister and patron of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, today demanded implementation of the recommendations of the Working Group headed by former RBI Governor C Rangarajan. Rangarajan, who headed the Prime Minister’s Working Group on Economic Reconstruction, has recommended that two NHPC projects namely Dulhasti and Salal hydro electric projects should be handed over to Jammu and Kashmir.
“For making Jammu and Kashmir an economically viable State it is necessary to implement recommendations of C Rangarajan”, said Sayeed while addressing a public meeting at Ramban. He regretted that despite having huge water resources Jammu and Kashmir has to depend upon Government of India for economic development.
He pointed out that according to a rough estimate, the state of Jammu and Kashmir would earn a whopping amount of Rs 50,000 crores annually through proper utilization of its natural resources. “It is unfortunate that successive National Conference regimes in the state have bartered natural resources by signing unfair agreements, just for the lust of power,” he maintained and added that PDP in this Self-Rule document has suggested various measures to properly utilize natural resources of state to make Jammu and Kashmir economically self-reliant.
Throwing light on Self-Rule, Sayeed said that road map prepared by his party is only practical and viable solution of the vexed Kashmir problem. “Self Rule document is prepared by incorporating wishes and aspirations of all sections of the society”, he said and added that PDP’s road map is aimed at removing regional disparities and treating all regions and sub-regions equally.
Reiterating that aim of forming PDP was to heal wounds of people of Jammu and Kashmir by restoring their dignity and honour, Mufti reminded there was a sense of fear and insecurity among the people when PDP was formed in the year 1999. “Through its visionary agenda, the PDP had not only created a sense of security among the people but also restored dignity of the common masses by implementing peace and reconciliation policies.
“Although we had just 16 members in the Assembly, we had convinced successive governments at Delhi, through our convictions, to initiate some bold Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) to restore lasting peace in this region”, he said.
The PDP-Congress coalition government had given a new direction to governance in order to address all diverse issues effectively with the result that successive governments at Delhi supported our all initiatives be it developmental fronts or restoring peace.
PDP-Congress coalition had not only restored peace in the state but also created conducive atmosphere for accelerating developmental activities in the State.
He further said that previous PDP-Congress regime had carved out a path of equitable development in the State and had initiated comprehensive policy to connect remotest areas with the main towns by spreading road connectivity.
He added that during PDP-Congress regime special emphasized was laid on accelerating developmental activities in backward and neglected areas. He said that a comprehensive policy was formulated for the overall development of the erstwhile Doda district including Ramban.
Pointing towards huge power generating potential in this belt, Sayeed strongly demanded that locals should be given priority in the new hydro-electric projects to be started in this belt. “Instead of appointing locals on small petty jobs, the agencies engaged in executing the hydro-electric projects must open training centres here to train the local unemployed youth so as to engage them on technical jobs”, he demanded, adding, “employment opportunities for locals must be created in all new developmental projects be it widening of highway, railway projects or hydro-electric projects in this belt. “We will not remain a mute spectator if locals were not given employment in these projects”, he warned and asked party workers to take this fight of locals on streets.
While pointing towards non-availability of electricity in many parts of this hilly belt, he said, “It is unfortunate that the power generated from this belt is being supplied to the whole country but people in many parts of erstwhile Doda district are struggling to get power even for a couple of hours”. He demanded that free power should be given to the areas where hydro-electric projects are set up because locals have right of getting free electricity.
Earlier people of Ramban submitted a charter of demands to the former Chief Minister. Besides other demands they sought creating of more blocks and zones in the district. They also demanded degree college and Naibat at Kastigarh area.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:00:00 IST