Considerable thrust on development of backward pockets: Omar

Drass, Ladakh: Reaffirming government’s determination for equitable development, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the amelioration of general public looms large in the development policy of his Government.
He said the focus has been on the holistic progress of far-flung and remote areas.
Addressing a public gathering here, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia where temperature goes down to more than negative 25 degrees during winter, the Chief Minister said the government was fully apprised of the difficulties of people living in bad pockets and inaccessible areas.
He said considerable attention was being paid to address their development needs and mitigate problems.
“My Government has sensitised the administration at all levels about the necessity of reaching out to people in all areas on the development front,” he said adding that the new initiatives and measures introduced during past two and the half years were yielding visible results on the ground.
Mr Abdullah said the basic ingredient of good governance is the empowerment of people. He said Panchayat elections have paved the way in this direction making grass-root democratic institutions units of power and decision making.
This, he said, would also give a new direction to the development process and help in launch of area specific works as per the needs and aspirations of the people.
On development, the Chief Minister said for opening of remote and far-flung areas for wide-ranging economic activities and generation of job opportunities, the government has flagged construction, development and upgradation of road communication sector as one of the top most concerns.
“While construction of new roads is being taken up under the PMGSY, major roads and bridges are undertaken under Central Road Fund (CRF) and other schemes under implementation in the state,” he added.
Underlining the need and importance of tunnel at Zojila, the Chief Minister said the State Government is vigorously pursuing the Centre Ministry of Surface Transport for construction of various tunnels in the state to link up remote areas and help in building a dependable road communication sector in the state.