SRINAGAR, 15 August : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today expressed hope that Centre will implement the recommendations made by its team of interlocutors for addressing the political issues of the Kashmir problem.
“We expect the Centre not to ignore the report to be submitted by the interlocutors as has been done with several reports (on Kashmir) in the past,” Omar said in his Independence Day speech at Bakshi Stadium here. Omar said he was hopeful that the team of interlocutors headed by veteran journalist Dileep Padgaonkar—with academician Radha Kumar and former information commissioner M M Ansari as members—will submit their report soon.
“We hope that they will submit the report soon so that the issues of the state will be resolved in true sense,” he said. The Chief Minister said the dialogue was the only way to resolve disputes and issues. “I have said it many times that gun is solution to no issue. If anytime we have come closer to resolution, it was when the dialogue process was expedited,” he said.
Omar said while New Delhi and Islamabad have resumed dialogue process, the issues between Centre and state were also being addressed simultaneously. Underlining that peace and tranquillity were imperative for development, the Chief Minister said he had asked for a peaceful summer from the people to show results both on development and political fronts.
“You have contributed in this direction positively during this summer, and this government conducted successful panchayat elections in the state to empower you,” he said. Omar said the peace dividends this year had trickled down to the poor sections of the society as 5.5 lakh tourists visited Kashmir.
“The government does not earn anything from tourist arrivals as we do not tax hotels or transporters. It is people associated with tourism trade who have benefited,” he said. Omar Abdullah said the government enacted ‘Public Service Guarantee Act’ to give authority to ‘Aam Adami’ to demand delivery of public service in a stipulated time frame.
“We made general people masters of situation in this regard making administration subservient to the rights of people for prompt public service delivery,” he said. Omar said his government has also strengthened the Accountability Commission and Right to Information Act by providing heads and members to these institutions to help transparency and accountability rule the state.
On the development of power sector, the Chief Minister referred to the constitution of Chenab Valley Joint Power Venture stating that 1000 MW Pakuldul, 600 MW Kiru and 520 MW Kawar power projects are being launched by the company. He said work on 690 MW Retle, 450 MW Baghlihar-II, 240 MW Kathai-I, 990 MW Karthai-II, 1200 MW Sawalkot, 93 MW Parnai and 50 MW Kalnai power houses is underway.
“In addition, under the new hydro-power policy, 35 small power stations are being taken up in PPP mode. We are affording to generate additional 4000 MWs of power in next six to seven years,” he said. The Chief Minister appealed the people to extend their full support to his government in restoration of peace in the state so that all development and political issues would be resolved amicably. (AGENCIES)
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