Tangmarg: Stating the obvious, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said Kashmir’s economic identity goes beyond tourism, asserting that farming, horticulture and industry remain major contributors to the Jammu and Kashmir economy.
Omar was speaking to reporters after laying the foundation stone for a new fruit and vegetable mandi at Wussan Bangil, Tangmarg, a project estimated to cost around Rs 15 to Rs 20 crore.
The Chief Minister said that people outside Kashmir think that Kashmir’s economy solely depends on tourism.
“Tourism yes, but much bigger contributors are agriculture, horticulture and industries. We frequently tell them that farming, crops, fruits and the industrial sector hold a major share in our economy and then tourism,” he said.
Abdullah said the new mandi would strengthen the rural economy of the Gulmarg constituency and provide farmers with a nearby market for their produce.
“Farmers earlier had to transport their produce to distant mandis, but the new facility would enable them to sell their produce closer to home and secure better market rates,” he said, adding that the mandi would also help maintain the quality of agricultural and horticultural produce by reducing the need for long-distance transportation.
The Chief Minister said the project was significant for Tangmarg and Gulmarg, areas often viewed primarily through their tourism potential. “This fruit mandi will strengthen the sector and boost the rural economy,” he said.
Omar also said the government would improve the approach road to the mandi to accommodate the movement of heavy vehicles. The widening and blacktopping of the road would be planned to prevent inconvenience once the mandi becomes operational, he added.
Taking a dig at the opposition, CM Omar questioned why the long-pending mandi project had not been executed by previous governments despite the land being available.
“The land was here only, and nobody had illegally occupied it. Why did they still fail?” he asked, accusing the opposition of overlooking development works while raising issues against the government.
He assured that work on the languishing mini secretariat in Tangmarg would resume by the end of this year.
He said what the previous MLAs have failed to do, incumbent MLA, Farooq Ahmad Shah has made it possible.
“That is the difference between rhetoric and real work,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that he expected the Gulmarg constituency to emerge among the most developed of Jammu and Kashmir’s 90 Assembly constituencies over the next three and a half years.
“No more power tariff hike during my tenure”
Says latest revision imposed out of compulsion, not by choice
Tangmarg: Assuring that Jammu and Kashmir won’t see any further power tariff hike during his tenure, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that the latest revision was imposed out of compulsion and not by choice.
Addressing a gathering here in Tangmarg CM defended the tariff revision and hit back at opposition parties, saying previous dispensations had significantly hiked electricity rates during their rule.
“I acknowledge the increase in electricity tariffs, but we did not do it out of happiness. It was a compulsion,” CM Omar said, adding that his government had tried to keep the additional burden on consumers to a minimum.
Comparing the latest revision with previous tariff hikes, the Chief Minister said, “When these people were in power, they increased the tariff by 13-15 per cent four years ago.”
Referring specifically to the PDP-BJP coalition government, CM Omar said, “When Mehbooba Mufti Sahiba was the Chief Minister, the electricity rates were increased by 13.5 to 14 per cent.”
Questioning the criticism of the latest hike, the Chief Minister asked why similar objections were not raised when previous regimes increased the rates. “Why did you remain silent at that time? At that time, didn’t you feel that injustice was being done to the people?” he asked.
CM Omar assured consumers that his government would not increase electricity tariffs further.
