Early Times Report
Jammu, June 17: Not contended with their senseless and communal opposition in Kashmir to the demand in Jammu for the return of AIIMS, vested interests in Kashmir on Tuesday upped their ante against the PDP-BJP coalition government. They charged the coalition government with proposing to allocate more funds for developmental activities in Jammu district and ignoring Srinagar district.
"The PDP-BJP government is treading the path of previous National Conference-Congress regime in allocating funds for development in Srinagar district. This is notwithstanding its claim that it is changing the funding pattern and ensuring equitable development of all regions of the state," they said.
The opposition of vested interests in Kashmir came in the wake of the revelation that the "State's Planning & Development Department had conveyed to the district administration in Srinagar that it would get Rs 65 crore for undertaking developmental works in the current year --almost three times less than the proposed allocation for Jammu district - and Jammu would get Rs 193 crore under district-sector for the ongoing financial year".
Reacting to the revelation, MLA from Srinagar, described the proposed allocation for Srinagar as "meager and injustice with people of the city". "We require at least Rs 200 crore (under district sector)," he said. To be more precise, he lambasted the authorities for giving a preferential treatment to Jammu district and asserted that Srinagar district was being deliberately ignored.
The opposition of vested interests in Kashmir to the report that Jammu district would Rs 193 crore for developmental activities and Srinagar Rs 65 crore is uncalled for. There is no comparison between Jammu district and Srinagar district. The land area of Jammu district is almost two-times that of Srinagar district. As for Srinagar district, its area is 2,228 square kilometers and population As for Srinagar district, its area is 2,228 square kilometers and population 1,250,173. Srinagar consists of just two tehsils, Srinagar South Tehsil and Srinagar North Tehsil. Contrast to this, Jammu district has four tehsils - Jammu, RS Pura, Bishnah and Akhnoor.
Srinagar consists of just two tehsils -- Srinagar South Tehsil and Srinagar North Tehsil. Contrast to this, Jammu district has four tehsils - Jammu, RS Pura, Bishnah and Akhnoor. Jammu district has 11 assembly segments and Srinagar district 8.
The population of Jammu district is three lakh more as compared to that of Srinagar. The population of Jammu district, according to the under-criticism census report, is 1,526,406 and its area 3,097 square kilometers. Under criticism because, according to the 2001 census figures, the population of the erstwhile Srinagar district was just 990,546, as compared to 1,250,173 in 2011. How could the population of Srinagar district increase by over 35 lakh in ten years, as compared to the increase of 18 lakhs in Jammu district during the same period? It appears that census figures were fudged.
But more than that, Srinagar is highly developed in terms of political power, road connectivity, infrastructural development, industrial growth, healthcare and educational facilities, trade and commerce and what not. It is perhaps the most developed district in the entire country. As far as Jammu district is concerned, bulk of its area is hilly and highly backward as it lacks the required infrastructure. The people of Jammu district cry for water and power almost everyday. The roads in the district, including Jammu city, are in a shambles.
The fact of the matter of the matter is that Jammu district, like other districts of the region, is highly underdeveloped. And still the vested interests in Kashmir have the temerity to oppose the reported move that Jammu district could get Rs 193 crore under district-sector for the ongoing financial year. They must appreciate the ground realities and stop opposing the people of Jammu region, who are already on the warpath demanding their due share in the governance of the state. |
