Jammu and Kashmir National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that development of Srinagar has been marred by government apathy.
“Urban life of Srinagar city is blight with variousproblems. Neither the centre nor the state government invested in theaugmentation of urban infrastructure of the Srinagar city in the past fiveyears,” Omar said in his addressing in a function to welcome 11corporators from Srinagar Muncipal Corporation into the party fold here.
“The city of Srinagar has fallen off from thedevelopment radar. The people of Srinagar stand dejected at the paucity ofamenities and the appalling condition of roads. The people of the Srinagar were forsaken by the former PDP-BJPgovernment, the present governor administration proved no different. The workon the various vital projects of the city that was initiated by our governmentwas unfortunately stalled by the former PDP-BJP regime,” he said.
Elaborating he said “NC despite being subjected topolitical shenanigans and conspiracies of various agencies, never left anystone unturned to work for the benefit of the people of the state.”
“Once in power we will carry forward the mission ofdevelopment and work towards ensuring peace in the state with active participationof people. The urban life of Srinagar is fraught with different issues. Theparty once in power will hold the authorities accountable. For past few yearsno headway was seen towards upgrading the existing road and transportinfrastructure of the city. We are witness to how government recklessly came upwith certain projects in Srinagar which didn’t bring any respite to the city.The need of the hour, therefore, calls for proper planning to rise up to thedemands of growing population of Srinagar city,” he said.
Taking a potshot at some of the decisions taken in theprevious PDP-led government, he said, the former BJP-PDP government”recklessly displaced” General Bus Stand of Batamaloo to the suburbanlocality of Parimpora. “The decision has hampered the livelihood of manyand turned out to be least fruitful towards easing traffic situation inSrinagar. In fact the decision has put the commuters to undue duress.Unfortunately the proposed motorable projects connecting either sides of theBund were also recklessly converted into foot bridges. The measure many expertssay was executed to serve the interests of few people,” he said.
Omar said that absence of a popular elected government inthe state was taking its toll on the development scenario of the state. “Theonus for the miseries that are plaguing the state in the absence of an electedgovernment lies on Mehbooba Mufti. Had she asked the governor to dissolve theassembly last year in June, after being shown door by its former ally, thingswould have been much different. Today wewould have an elected government looking after the basic needs of people.However she chose not to do that and what followed is known to all. It is shewho is blameworthy for putting the state into a chasm,” he said.
Omar said that once in power his party will put Srinagar onthe track of eco-friendly and sustainable development. “There is much to do interms of job creation, traffic management, urban housing, beautification, andenvironment fronts in the city. Once in power the party will immediately swinginto action and provide for the development needs of the Srinagar city,” hesaid.
He appreciated the efforts of former Mayor of Srinagar, YNCprovincial president Salman Ali Sagar for strengthening party on grassroots. “Iam hopeful that the new entrants into the party fold will strive for thebetterment civic amenities of Srinagar on one hand and on the other handstrengthen the party on grass roots. I am confident that Salman will continuewith his good work towards increasing the public base of party inSrinagar,” he said.
On the occasion corporators Danish Bhat, Majid Shuloo,Neelofar Khan, Ghulam Nabi Sofi, Saleeem Lone, Mukhtiyar Ahmad Dar, ParvezAhmad Dar, Parvez Qadri, Umaan Shera, Zubair Fayaz, Sami Jan, Saima Jan joinedthe party
Among others party general secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar,provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani, senior leader Mubarak Gul, Nazir Gurezi, Syed Basharat Bhukhari, IrfanAhmad Shah, Muhammad Syed Akhoon, Tanvir Sadiq, Shammi Oberoi, Showkat Mir,Salman Ali Sagar, Er. Sabiya Qadri, Ahsan Pardesi, Mudassir Shahmiri were alsopresent on the occasion.