Crying hoarse now PDP lost voice on power policy in its tenure: Omar

KISHTWAR: In his master stroke against Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) propaganda on water resources, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday said that crying hoarse now, PDP lost voice on power policy in its tenure. He questioned the locus-standi of the party on this issue and added that during PDP government not even a one-mega watt capacity power project was launched in the State.

“Crying hoarse is something else and taking action when in power is something different”, he said and added that irrespective of any political mileage his government has created history by launching dozens of mega, small and micro projects through the State Power Development Corporation, in PPP mode, as joint ventures and in IPP pattern.
Addressing a huge public gathering at Kishtwar today, Omar Abdullah said that injustice has been meted out to the State by granting rights on the waters of J&K Rivers to Pakistan without consulting Jammu and Kashmir and without providing for compensation for this action taken during the time when Sheikh Sahib was in prison.
“We are strongly and vehemently advocating return of Uri, Salal and Dulhasti Power Projects back to the State by NHPC to compensate the losses we are regularly bearing due to the Indus Water Treaty”, he said and added that NHPC is putting hurdles in our efforts but “let me tell them categorically that we will not give any project to NHPC in future to be executed by it individually unless it agrees to give back the projects we have asked for”. He said NHPC has taken full advantage of these projects and it is now their duty to return these projects for the economic betterment of the State without further delay.
The Chief Minister said that Rangarajan Committee, Working Group constituted by Prime Minister and Interlocutors have recommended the return of power projects back to the State by the NHPC adding that he would continue to work tirelessly to make it happen.
“I am hopeful that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who are friends of the State and keen to see all round development here, will use their offices to make NHPC to return the power projects to the State as early as possible”, he added and highlighted the potential of State to produce substantial quantity of hydro electricity and provide strong edifice to its economy. He said the economic prosperity of J&K lies in the harnessing of hydro energy and utilizing it for industrial, agricultural and other purposes besides selling the surplus.
The Chief Minister referred to the launch of four most important hydro electric projects of Retle, Packaldul, Kawar and Kiru sanctioned by his government in Chenab Valley and said that the generation of indigenous power from these projects would catapult the power scenario in the State.
Omar Abdullah said that financial health of the State could only be improved by utilizing the State’s water resources in full. He said his government is keenly working on this policy without any political consideration as is clear by the fact that the completion of these projects would go beyond 2014 Assembly Elections.
Omar Abdullah said that the economic status of the State could be viewed by the fact that it has a total annual income of Rs. 6500 crores by all sources and has to pay Rs. 13500 crores as salary to its employees and Rs. 1500 crores as pension to pensioners annually. “This makes me to visit New Delhi time and again for getting financial support for the development and economic welfare of the State”, he said adding that his endeavour is to help the State to stand upon its own economic edifice. “To achieve this goal, harnessing of rich hydro electric potential is only way out”, he added.
The Chief Minister who is also the Working President of National Conference said that National Conference represents the aspirations of people of the State and equitable development of all the regions and sub-regions is governing principle of its socio-economic agenda.
Omar Abdullah expressed gratitude to the people of Kishtwar for returning NC nominee from this Assembly Constituency repeatedly and without any break. He said that National Conference would continue to render selfless service for the welfare and prosperity of the people and spear no efforts for restoring peace in the State and giving fillip to the development process.
The Chief Minister said that though the representation to Kishtwar in the Council of Ministers has been belated yet the progress and comprehensive development of this area never lost the sight of his government or his party. “Your representative is dynamic and in a short span of over one and the half years he will revolutionize the process of development in the area”, Omar Abdullah mentioning Home Minister Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo reposed confidence in his working.
The Chief Minister said that a scheme costing over Rs. 50 crores have been sanctioned for providing drinking water facility to Kishtwar area. He also mentioned the progress of work on three most important roads of Kishtwar-Dacchan, Inshan-Marwah and Gulabgarh-Machari and said that while the first two roads would be completed this year the third one is expected within next two years. He also mentioned the sanctioning of Degree College, University Campus and Polytechnic for Kishtwar District and said that his government’s attention is focused on the holistic development of underdeveloped and far-flung areas. He also mentioned the initiatives underway to bring erstwhile Doda District which also includes Kishtwar, on tourist map.
The Chief Minister said that 12000 solar lights have been provided to Gujjar, Bakerwal and other backward population in Kishtwar District last year and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Dr. Farooq Abdullah has sanctioned another 12000 solar lights for the district for distribution during the current year.
Omar Abdullah said that locals of the area would be preferred for giving employment in the power projects adding that necessary directions in this regard have already been given to the concerned. He asked the youth to utilize the facility of ITI and Polytechnic allotted to Kishtwar for upgrading skills to ensure their placement in upcoming hydro electric and other development projects.
The public meeting was also addressed by Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo and Provincial President National Conference, Jammu, Devender Singh Rana. Many former legislators and local leaders were present on the occasion.
Later, the Chief Minister laid foundation of infrastructure for New University Campus at Kishtwar. It includes Administrative Block building, Boys and Girls Hostels. He expressed the hope that the campus would emerge as a significant seat of knowledge and education for the youth of this area. He said it would provide opportunity to them to pursue higher goals of education and serve the State and this area. He called for balancing expansion and consolidation programmes.
Omar Abdullah also interacted with NC workers in a separate meeting and heard their views on economic and political developments. Jammu Provincial President NC, Devender Singh Rana was also present in the meeting among others.