Isolate violence fomenters for development: Azad

TRCs at Doda, Amiranagar, Gatha Park, Tourist Complex inaugurated

Stressing that peace and normalcy is imperative for development, the Union Minister for Health, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad appealed the people of the state to isolate the vested elements hell bent on fomenting violence and jettisoning the efforts of the government to take the state ahead in the field of development.

“The last two decades of violence witnessed in the state have forced development to take the back seat. We are trying our best to cover up the loss, but it is not possible unless we collectively rise against such elements as hold the public at ransom at the cost of development,” Mr. Azad said while addressing a massive public rally at Khilani, here today on the second day of his three-day extensive tour of Udhampur and erstwhile Doda districts.

Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Tara Chand, Health Minister Mr. Sham Lal Sharma, Tourism Minister Mr. Rigzin Jora, MP Ch. Lal Singh, MLAs Mr. G. M. Saroori, Mr. Abdul Majid Wani, Mr. Shabir Khan and Mr. Mohammad Sharief Niaz accompanied the Union Minister.

Mr. Azad visited different construction works started during his tenure as Chief Minister and inspected the pace of works.

At Doda, he inaugurated a mini Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) and a viewpoint-cum- tourism cafeteria constructed at a cost of Rs. 54 lakh. He also laid the foundation stone of forest based management project for Doda city to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 142.82 lakh under UIDSSMT besides, four link roads-20 km Chilli-Dhangal, 15.65 km Beoli-Gaddi, 14.40 km Beoli-Kota and 13 km Doda-Malwana roads for which Rs.30 crore has been earmarked.

Constructed at a cost of Rs. 27 lakh, the mini TRC set up at Doda houses an information centre, food corner and an indoor recreational centre. The view point has been constructed by the Tourism department at a cost of Rs. 27 lakh and has a breathtaking view of river Chenab.

The UIDSSMT project will be executed by NBCC and has been sanctioned for the district due to the efforts of the Deputy Chief Minister who also holds the portfolio of Housing and Urban development.

Expressing concern over the slow execution of construction of stadium and new district hospital complex at Doda, Mr. Azad asked the executing agencies to redouble their efforts and complete all the ongoing works within stipulated time frame. He asked Mr. Sham Lal to personally intervene and ascertain the reasons in delay for getting the project completed within the targeted time.

At Bhaderwah, the Union minister visited Herbal garden pilot project developed at Drudhu which has proved to be a successful venture. He said that the herbal garden is a repository of some rare herbs brought from other parts of the country and the seeds developed in the nursery would be distributed to local farmers for their commercial cultivation. This, he said would give tremendous fillip to local agrarian economy.

Inspecting the development works taken up by the Bhaderwah Development Authority, the Union Minister visited the Rs. 175 lakh project of Khilani View resort, horticulture orchard at Khilani, wayside facilities at Drudhu, Gatha park, resort at Jai and inspected the renovation and preservation work of Bhaderwah fort.

He was apprised that so far, out of the Rs. 175 lakh earmarked for Khilani view resort, Rs. 80 lakh have been expended on the development of hutments and view points in the resort for the facility of tourist. The Jai resort is being developed at a cost of Rs. 4.13 crore while as Rs. 6.50 crore is being expended on renovation of Bhaderwah fort.

Mr. Azad also inaugurated the TRC complex at Amiranagar, one of the best TRCs in the state built at the entry point of Bhaderwah, Gatha park, rose garden at Tourist Complex, Teligarh and Tourist Complex at Dandi. The Amiranagar TRC has come up at a cost of Rs. 3 crore while Rs. 3.63 crore has been expended on the rose garden at Teligarh. The Tourist Complex at Dandi will provide boarding facilities to the tourists besides, restaurant and other recreational facilities. All these projects took off when Mr. Azad was the Chief Minister of the state under the new work schedule of double and triple shifts.

The Union minister said that the realization of development projects is a dream come true for him, adding that as Chief Minister, he has toiled endlessly for bringing the far-flung and hilly districts at par with the developed areas of the state.

Enroute, the Union minister met several deputations from Pranoo, Bhalla and Drudhu who asked him to upgrade the schools in their areas. Mr. Azad assured them that he would take up the issue with the Education minister.

Later, Mr. Azad attended a cultural programme organized at Degree College, Bhaderwah.

Among others, Deputy Commissioner, Doda, Syed Sharief-ud-Din, Director Health Services. Jammu, Dr. Jasbir Singh, Director Tourism, Jammu, Mr. S. M. Sawhney, Director Horticulture, Jammu, Mr. J. L. Sharma, Director Floriculture, Mr. K. K. Sharma and district officers also accompanied the Ministers.