People have right to relish peace benefits: Omar

BANDIPORE: Asserting that his Government would strive to ensure peace benefits to the people in all fields of life, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Wednesday said that peaceful year of 2011 has resulted in catapulting development programmes all across the State.
“My initiative regarding the gradual revocation of laws like AFSPA in the areas where the role of Army has ended, due to the restoration of peaceful situation, relates to the commitments made to people in the Assembly and outside in this regard”, he said criticizing those who have made it subject matter of negative politics.
Taking PDP to task without naming it, Omar Abdullah said that the party is politicking on the issue of AFSPA speaking three different languages at Srinagar, Jammu and New Delhi. “While the party favours its revocation in the Valley, it keeps mum at Jammu, and at New Delhi says that the AFSPA should be removed only after Army permits to do so”, he said adding that this political adventurism and double speak is only aimed at vested interests to deceive the people at all the three places.
The Chief Minister said that peaceful and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir is his mission. “We would take all efforts in this direction”, he said adding that his Government would work to achieve the dream of Naya Kashmirdreamt by Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.
The Chief Minister was addressing a function after launch of Comprehensive Management Action Plan for preservation and conservation of world famous and one of the largest fresh water lakes in Asia ‘Wular’ Lake here.
Terming preservation of water bodies necessary ingredient for sustenance of life, the Chief Minister said that protection and conservation of State’s ecology and environment is a national duty for all of us to perform.
“Countenancing water resources and bio-diversity of the State amounts to Safeguarding our future”, he said adding that all of us have to contribute to pass-on palatable environment to the next generation. He underlined the need for joint efforts by all in the direction.
The Chief Minister said that the management plans and conservation strategies put in place by the Government for the preservation of water bodies and green wealth are ambitious programmes aimed at maintaining the ecological balance and restoring the State’s pristine glory of natural beauty and water resources.
Omar Abdullah said that Government efforts only would not yield desirable results unless people in general and agencies connected in particular work jointly to achieve this stupendous goal.
The Chief Minister said that mass awareness about this important subject holds key in the success plans and programmes launched in the State for the protection of environment, water bodies, green wealth and bio-diversity. He asked the concerned departments to involve public in general and students in particular in the awareness programmes.
The Chief Minister highlighting the importance of Wular Conservation Project asked the executing agencies to ensure employment of locals in various works of the peoject adding that the locals operating sumos, tippers, etc. should be given full opportunity of work in the project wherever required.
Addressing the function Speaker, Legislative Assembly, Mohammad Akbar Lone said that Wular Conservation Project is an important measure to restore the glory of this famous lake which provides lot of economic activities to the people.
Akbar Lone thanked the Chief Minister for the project and said that the keen interest of Omar-led Government in the protection of environment, forests and water bodies would yield positive results for people and the State.
Speaking on the occasion Minister for Forests, Mian Altaf Ahmad highlighted the new initiatives taken by the Ministry of Forests in the State to protect forests, maintain eco-balance and encourage afforestation.
Mian Altaf listed the achievements registered in this direction during the last three years and elaborated the measures under implementation at present. He said environment is the important concern and has been recognized as a major concern in the policy planning of the department.
Legislators, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi and Mohammad Ashraf were present on the occasion besides officers of the forest department and district Baramulla.
Commissioner Secretary Forests, Shant Manu gave details of the Wular Management Plan and said that the plan has been prepared with the help of world famous ‘Wetlands International-South Asia’ and got approved from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.
He said that 13th Finance Commission has granted Rs. 120 crores for the project and the Union Government has approved the funding in a phased manner with an initial allocation of Rs. 30 crore for the year 2011-12.
The Wular Conservation Management Action Plan envisages survey demarcation, catchment conservation, water management, bio-diversity conservation, eco-tourism development, sustainable resources development, enhancement of livelihood earning capacity and institutional development.