Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha today said that following the scrapping of Article 370 and 35 A, Jammu and Kashmir has not only seen a boom in economic activities and infrastructure building but the common citizen can live now according to his own wishes without any dictates from terrorists and neighboring country.
In an exclusive interview with DDK Srinagar, LG listed improvement in law and order and infrastructure building as major developments witnessed during past four years.
He said that following the historic decision of the parliament on August 05, 2019, the three major developments that changed the political, social and economic landscape of Jammu and Kashmir are that chronic street violence that was triggered by some elements is now thing of past and bandh calls given by terrorists and neighbouring country are history.
“The third important and vital achievement is that a common citizen of J&K is now living the life of his own choice without any dictations,” Sinha said.
Stressing that it was a different Jammu and Kashmir, LG said that earlier, the life, particularly in Kashmir, would come to a stand still once the sun set.
“Now it is different. Just have a look on the banks of Jhelum river in Srinagar. After sunset. You will see children with families playing around, elders having a walk in a free atmosphere. This change has given the people a confidence that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, J&K, like other places in the country can breathe freely,” he said.
While elaborating how it was possible to establish this kind of peace in a place which till other day was known for disturbance and turbulence, LG said, “Efforts have been made on all fronts. We were committed that peace is not to be bought but established. There was very great synergy amongst all security forces. A transparent and people-oriented administration was ensured. And all these steps helped restoring peoples’ confidence in the system.”
He said that the victims of the turbulence were only the poor citizens here. The rich had no problem.
“But now, see last year we had 1.88 crore tourists visiting J&K so all those affiliated with the trade got benefitted and most of them are the poor people who depend on this industry only,” he said, adding, that the infrastructure development too has opened up economic avenues for the poor who either work there as petty contractors or as workers and earn their livelihood.
Observing that during past, these poor were suffering as J&K’s economy was suffering.
“However, there was a parallel economy, “economy of separatism”, that was thriving. Besides, the terrorist politics was hampering the developmental process by forcing frequent bandh calls as no work could be done, the LG said.
He said that Government of India (GOI) continues to assess all States and UTs on developmental and other fronts and in transparency field, J&K’s performance is good.
“In e-Governance, we are number one in UTs. We have more than 450 services online. And if we talk about the pace of development, the year I took over, 9229 projects were completed. Today we have completed 92600 projects. So the pace of performance is ten times,” disclosed Sinha.
Commenting on G20 event held here, the LG said that the participants of the event went back with very good feelings and that he was sure that the countries who had earlier issues travel advisories to their citizens against visiting J&K, will reconsider/lift the same.
While deliberating about non locals buying land in Kashmir, LG said, the ones who are not J&K domiciles can’t buy agricultural land here.
He, however, clarified that if outside industries are willing to invest here, they need land.
“If anyone, not a domicile, wants to establish a hospital here, it can’t be made in the air. So, we have kept that option open,” he said, adding, we have kept land available for hospitals, colleges, institutions, tourism sectors etc for the development of J&K,” he said.
He further said that J&K UT’s industrial policy is better than any other state in India,
“When the industrial policy was announced it was aimed around Rs 28200 crore and I am happy to tell you that we have got the proposals for more than Rs 80, 000 crore rupees,” LG revealed, adding, “the works on projects worth Rs 25000 crore are on and I am sure that we will get Rs 75000 crore investment.”
“Two AIIMS, two cancer institutions, seven new medical colleges, IIT, IIM, NIFT and several such institutions have come up in the Union Territory and Rs. 1.5 lakh crore highway and railway projects two are in motion,” he said.
In this detailed interview, the LG talked about all aspects of life here and visualised a bright future for J&K saying he doesn’t see a stone in the hands of Kashmiri youth anymore but a laptop.
“J&K was Sharda Peth earlier and I am sure, it has been restored and is in a position to guide India towards a peaceful, progressive and prosperous nation,” he said.
