Jammu Being Developed At The Cost of Kashmir: JKCCCC

‘Recent cabinet reshuffle a plan to halt dev works in Valley’

Srinagar, Mar 04: Criticizing the State government for recent cabinet reshuffle, Valley based contractors Monday said all key positions have been given to the “babus” of Jammu.
“There is a big ploy behind the cabinet reshuffle as all key positions have been given to bureaucrats of Jammu and Valley has been left high and dry,” said General Secretary Jammu and Kashmir Contractors Coordination Committee (JKCCCC), Farooq Ahmad Dar.

He urged people to take serious notice of handing over of charges of some key departments to Jammu bureaucrats. “It is a ploy to pave way for development of Jammu at the cost of Kashmir.”
Dar said as the valley was facing crunch of developmental works, the transfer of key portfolios concerned with the development sector to Jammu would add to problems of Kashmiris.
“Now Kashmir would be further ignored in the development process and funds will go to Jammu,” he said.
Dar said diversion of funds from Srinagar to Jammu is already into the notice of Kashmir. But, he cautioned that the big ‘switch over’ in the portfolios has only brought gloom for the trade and development sector in Kashmir.
“By reposing trust in ministers from Jammu, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has erred to a great deal. He may bask in its glory now, but will suffer from its repercussions during the 2014 assembly elections,” Dar added.
Dar said important sectors like R&B, Housing and Urban Development, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Power and Information went into the kitty of ministers from outside the Valley.
“Kashmir has always received step motherly treatment on developmental front while as Jammu is being given special focus,” he alleged.
“The cabinet reshuffle has only rubbed salt on our wounds as the imported bureaucrats and interference of Delhi into the developmental affairs of J&K has already moved Jammu ahead of Valley,” he added.
Castigating the State government for its “dual” approach, he said, “Valley was given only Rs 106 crore while Rs 160 crore were given to Jammu division for development works last year. Under the MGNREGA scheme, Rs 116 crore in 2010-11 and Rs 103 crore in 2011-12 were allocated to Kashmir region which is way below to what was given to Jammu region.”