EU delegation meet Azad, political leaders in Kashmir

Srinagar, June 28 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today told a visiting European Union (EU) delegation that a massive infrastructure development programme has been launched in the strife-torn state.

The EU delegation, led by Foreign Affairs Committee Chairperson Baroness Emma Nicholoson, called on the Chief Minister here.

Mr Azad briefed the delegation about the steps taken by the state government to amputate the tentacles of corruption and provide transparent and people-friendly administration besides creating healthy work culture and ensuring public participation in development activities for good governance.

He said a network of development schemes was underway in every nook and corner of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh with the liberal and highest-ever assistance being received from the Centre to rebuild the economy that had crumbled during militancy.

The Chief Minister said among many other evils created by militancy, the development of the state received unbearable jolts and the economy got shattered.

The gigantic and mammoth task of rebuilding the state and getting the people out of economic distress has been started and its results were encouraging, he added.

Mr Azad said under the new work culture to compensate development backlog along with combating vagaries of climate and short available working season, an innovative double-shift system on important projects has been put in place.

At present, 550 important projects have been identified for completion under the double-shift system, he added.

The Chief Minister also said that the Vigilance Organisation has already taken action under the provision of law and confiscated certain properties of the corrupt officials.

The administration, NGOs and other central government agencies accomplished stupendous task to address aftermath of the October 8 earthquake in the state, he added.

Mr Azad said it was the quick response of the state government and the security forces to save and rescue thousands of lives.

Besides providing early relief and temporary shelters to the earthquake affected families, a massive rehabilitation programme had been launched in the devastated areas, he added. Mr Azad said he was also personally monitoring the rehabilitation process.

To meet exigencies created by natural calamities, he said for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir, a high-powered disaster management committee had been set up under the chairmanship of Chief Minister.

Mr Azad also briefed the delegation about the CBMs, round-table conferences, people-to-people interaction and other measures taken by the Centre to create cordial and friendly relations between India and Pakistan and address issues through dialogue and peaceful means.

Besides opening the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi flagged-off a bus service on Poonch-Rawalakot road to provide yet another link for divided families.

He said the opening up of the Jhelum Valley road for trade would be yet another step towards building confidence between the people and opening new vistas for development in the area.

Referring to the recently held bye-elections in the state, he said the unprecedented voter turnout vindicated the faith of people in democracy and peace. The elections have been recognised as the fairest of all held so far in the state, the Chief Minister added.

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