J&K govt to spend Rs 13,000 cr an infrastructure development

Jammu, Nov 23 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir government will spend Rs 13,000 crore for infrastructure development in the state, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said.

Speaking at a function here last evening, Mr Azad said the capital cities of the state -- Jammu and Srinagar -- alone would get Rs 8,000 crore for infrastructure development with regard to sewerage, drinking water, roads and solid waste management.

The Chief Minister said when he was the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Development, the central government had initiated the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban National Renewal Mission for the integrated development of major and small cities across the country.

''While the rest of the states received 50 per cent funds from the Centre under the scheme, J and K was the only state to receive special treatment and 90 per cent funds'' he said.

In the coming four years, he said all major and small cities, and towns in the state, would see a development wise changed picture.

Mr Azad strongly called for countering vested interests coming in the way of public private partnership (PPP) in infrastructure development critically needed in Jammu and Kashmir to raise basic facilities for the people.

''If we need development, we have to fight the vested interests who do not want the state to raise infrastructure through public private partnership,'' the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister observed the two capital cities were expanding rapidly with rural migration taking place at a higher pace during the last two decades.

He said pressure of rural migration on both Srinagar and Jammu cities had badly affected basic facilities like drinking water, sanitation and sewerage.

The Chief Minister said there was need for planned development of housing colonies in the newly created districts to disallow haphazard growth as well as to meet the likely growing demand of accommodation.

Mr Azad asked the housing cooperatives to seize the opportunity and start the work in the right earnest.

UNI