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| Exploitation resulted into ecological degradation in Chenab Valley: Mufti | | Successive NC regimes responsible for backwardness of erstwhile Doda: Beigh |  Doda/Jammu,September 5(Scoop News) - Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today assured to formulate a comprehensive action plan for the socio-economic growth of the people of Chenab Valley. Party further assured that backwardness and underdevelopment of this region would be removed by implementing this comprehensive action plan.
Addressing a public meeting, which was organized in connection with the foundation day function of the party, patron of PDP Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said that Chenab Valley area was economically as well as strategically important region in the whole sub-continent due to availability of huge natural resources in the form of water and forest in this belt.
He, however, regretted that instead of improving socio-economic conditions of the local people of Chenab Valley, the exploitation of water and forest resources has resulted into ecological degradation and destabilization of geological features and a disruption in peaceful lives of common citizens. He strongly demanded that services of international experts should be utilized to maintain ecological balance in this belt. “Instead of giving benefits to the available resources to the residents of Chenab Valley, the rulers only bartered away the forest and water resources for their personal power”, Mr Sayeed said, while mentioning towards grossly discriminatory agreements singed by the successive National Conference regimes.
Exhorting party workers to agitate for their genuine demands, PDP patron demanded that locals should be given priority in the new hydro-electric projects and other developmental activities going on in this belt. “Instead of appointing locals on small petty jobs, the agencies engaged in executing the hydro-electric projects must open training centres here to train the local unemployed youth so as to engage them on technical and skilled jobs”, he demanded, adding, “employment opportunities for locals must be created while constructing hydro-electric projects in this belt.
While demanding free electricity for the people of erstwhile Doda district, he said that residents of Chenab Valley have first right on the water flowing from their area. “It is ironical that other parts of the country are benefited from the electricity generated from this region but inhabitants of this belt were neither getting power nor other basic amenities”, he observed, adding, “As real owner of the water flowing from their areas, the residents of erstwhile Doda district have right to get free electricity from the projects operating in their areas”.
Demanding proper rehabilitation of the people whose land has been acquired for developmental activities, he said that residents of this belt have been facing displacement as well as ecological disaster due to construction of mega hydo-electric projects and other developmental activities in their areas. He said that besides giving adequate compensation, the affected people must be properly rehabilitated.
He reminded the gathering that to explore the tourism potential in the erstwhile Doda district, the previous regime had constituted tourism developmental authorities for different regions. He further mentioned towards the comprehensive plan which was formulated for promotion of tourism in Chenab Valley region during PDP led regime.
Reiterating his party’s resolve to ensure justice to all regions and sub-regions, PDP patron said the Self Rule proposal was about empowerment of all sections of society irrespective of cast creed or religion.
Speaking on the occasion, former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh blamed successive National Conference regimes for the backwardness of Chenab Valley region.
Referring to the acute backwardness of the Chenab Valley region Mr Beigh said that while most parts of the country were benefited by the water flowing from it, the region itself was steeped in to darkness and backwardness. “Due to availability of natural resources Chenab Valley is the most important place in the whole sub-continent but this region remained neglected and ignored”, he maintained and said that successive National Conference regimes were responsible for the backwardness and underdevelopment of this region. “It was only during PDP led regime the Chenab Valley region was brought on the map of development but after formation of the present Omar Abdullah led government all developmental projects have been stopped”, he said and reminded the gathering during PDP led regime various developmental projects were initiated in this belt, which was ignored and neglected by the successive National Conference regimes for decades together. He especially mentioned that some projects which were started during the regime of Ghulam Nabi Azad were also stopped midway.
Highlighting achievements of previous PDP led government; he said that biggest achievement of his government was that it had earned credibility of the people. “It was all due to the credibility of the PDP that previous NDA regime headed by Atal Behari Vajpayee and present UPA government led by Dr Manmohan Singh whole heartedly supported initiatives taken by us for restoring peace in this region", Mr Beigh said and added that PDP has been playing the role of bridge between people of Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the country.
Expressing his deep concern over non availability of basic amenities in this belt, former Deputy Chief Minister regretted that various Central sponsored poverty alleviation schemes were not reaching this belt due to prevailing mess in the State. “Needy and deserving people are not getting benefits of the poverty alleviation schemes like MNREGA, IAY as these schemes implemented only on papers”, he pointed out and added that instead of properly implementing these schemes on ground level, such schemes remained only on papers.
Senior PDP leader and MLC Sayeed Asgar Ali moved a resolution in the meeting which was passed with one voice.
Prominent among those who addressed the meeting included Peer Mohammad Hussain, former Minister, Thakur Balbir Singh, Sayeed Asgar Ali, Dr Muzaffar, Sheikh Mujib, Advocate Imtiyaz, Vijay Katoch, Nicos Domas, Mohinder Kotwal, Rehamatullah, Abdul Majid Bhat, Talib Hussain, Shoukat Daing, Imtiayaz Khanday, Abdul Rehman Kashmiri, Shakir Saddiqui, Ashok Sen, Riyaz Zarger, Parveen Akthar, Farooq Sadiqui, Mohammad Latif, Shakil Singh Bhagat, Suresh Sharma, Umar Malik, Shahnawaz Mir, Farooq Choudhary, Salim Javed Magray, Naim Ahmed Ansari and others.
Peoples Democratic Party passed a resolution today at the conference of stake holders of Chinab Valley at Doda.
The Chinab Valley that comprises the districts of Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban is one of the largest geographical entities of Jammu and Kashmir, as big perhaps as some small states. Its cultural mosaic is unique with almost all major religions being practiced for centuries. The region is home to more than a dozen languages and dialects.
Nature has been extremely generous with the area. All major inputs for development of a modern society are endowed to it. Water, the lifeline for agriculture and more importantly the energy is available to it in abundance. The mighty Chinab has been the source of life and light to hundreds of millions of people and God’s other creation. Similarly it once boasted the most extensive forest cover. Its physical features have the potential of great tourism ventures. Its known mineral wealth including the world famous Paddar sapphire could support considerable industry.
What this region has got in spite of these bounties in the last sixty five years of independence is one of the lowest economic statuses even by the standards of our own state. The human development index only reflects the poor infrastructure. It is a shame that some people have to trudge on foot for days to establish a connection with amenities like a bus, a doctor or basic shopping.
Exploitation of its water and forest resources has instead of enriching the lives of local people resulted in destruction of environment, destabilization of geological features and a disruption in peaceful lives of ordinary citizens. Not even a feeble effort was made to share the benefits of Chinab valley resources with its residents so as to enhance their access to medical and educational facilities, or creating more job opportunities. Rulers only bartered away the forest wealth first and then water resources for their personal power.
This representative gathering of the stake holders of Chinab Valley resolves to dedicate itself to a reversal of the process of exploitation that has cost the region heavily in terms of environmental degradation, economic deprivation and social development. It resolves to create a consensus under the banner of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) within the region on a common minimum program of economic emancipation on the basis of its contribution to the national economy. The people of the region want to grow as part of a welfare state which reaches out to them not as a disadvantaged section of population with doles but as proud partners in political process, governance, development and growth who need to be compensated for a raw deal spanning six and a half decades.
The gathering demands that the interests of the region be safeguarded in existing and future power projects in the region.
The region should be compensated for the huge environmental degradation caused by dams and projects constructed here after due assessment of their impact through professionally authentic and neutral agencies. Restoration works should be taken up immediately and provided for in any ongoing or future projects.
Free power should be provided to all people residing in a radius of 20 kms of every project.
Skilled and unskilled labor should be employed from the region and second preference given to other state subjects. For skill development among locals every project executor should be bound to open training institutes ahead of the inception to avoid the excuse of non availability of suitable employees locally.
Mineral development should be taken up on priority.
Forest extraction should be banned for at least 20 years to allow regeration of forest wealth.
The connectivity plan that includes construction of following roads with tunnels should be taken up in a time bound manner. Add names of roads/tunnels
Any other points like a medical and engineering college with matching hospital facilities etc. Boarding schools etc... |
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