• Says “Tariff revision taken out of compulsion”
• “In next three and a half years, will fulfil all the promises”
• Announces Tangmarg Mini Secretariat completion
Tangmarg: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday defended the recent revision in electricity tariffs in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the decision was taken out of compulsion and in view of the prevailing economic circumstances. He, however, assured people that he would make every effort to avoid any further tariff increase during the present government’s term.
Omar was addressing a public gathering at WussanBangil, Karhama, Tangmarg, after laying the foundation stone of a modern Fruit and Vegetable Mandi, a long-pending demand of the area.
Addressing concerns over the electricity tariff revision, the Chief Minister said the government accepted responsibility for the increase but maintained that the decision needed to be seen in the context of inflation and earlier tariff revisions.
“The opposition is targeting us over the increase in electricity tariffs. We have increased the electricity tariff, and I accept that. But we had to take this decision out of compulsion and the circumstances we were facing,” Omar said.
He said inflation in the country had increased by around 19 to 20 per cent in the four years since the previous electricity tariff increase, while the tariff had been raised by around 15 per cent during the previous period.
“In comparison, we have placed only a small part of that burden on the people,” he said.
Taking a dig at the opposition, Omar said electricity tariffs had increased by around 13.5 to 14 per cent when those criticising the present government were in power.
“Why were you silent then if you felt that injustice had been done to people? Today, those whose decisions have contributed to the problems we are facing are making noise,” he said.
The Chief Minister nevertheless assured consumers, saying, “I assure you that I will try my best not to increase the electricity tariff during this government.”
CM Omar reiterated the government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises and said the next three and a half years would witness accelerated development across Jammu and Kashmir.
“God willing, in the next three and a half years, we will fulfil all the promises we have made to the people,” he said.
CM Omar also laid the foundation stone of the modern Fruit and Vegetable Mandi at WussanBangil, Karhama, describing it as an important step towards strengthening horticulture marketing infrastructure in the Tangmarg-Gulmarg belt.
The proposed mandi will be developed over 50 kanals of land with direct access to the Tangmarg-Gulmarg Road. It is expected to cater to the major horticulture-producing areas of Tangmarg and adjoining regions and benefit around nine lakh people across 19 blocks in Baramulla and Budgam districts.
The facility will provide growers with organised infrastructure for handling, grading, sorting, packaging and marketing of fruit and vegetable produce. It is also expected to strengthen market linkages and logistics, bring buyers closer to producers, improve price realisation for growers and reduce post-harvest losses.
Addressing the gathering, Omar said Kashmir’s economy could not be viewed only through the prism of tourism, pointing out that agriculture, horticulture, dairy and allied sectors make major contributions to the region’s economy.
He said Tangmarg was a major horticulture-producing belt but growers had earlier been forced to take their produce to distant markets, where they were not always assured of buyers or remunerative prices.
“Now, through this market, the buyers will come here and, through the buyers, you will get a better rate,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the modern facility would improve the quality and marketability of local produce and provide a new source of income for the area while giving a boost to the rural economy.
CM Omar stressed that the success of the mandi would also depend on connectivity and directed authorities to improve and widen the road leading to the facility.
“Even if it is a 1.5 to 2 km stretch, we will have to widen it and improve its condition so that people do not face any difficulty,” he said.
He said the government had initiated development works across sectors in the constituency, including drinking water, healthcare, education, roads and horticulture infrastructure, with the focus on executing concrete projects on the ground.
Responding to criticism from the opposition, Omar said political parties were free to oppose government initiatives but the people would ultimately judge governments on the basis of work delivered on the ground.
He questioned why previous governments, despite having land and opportunities, had not established a fruit and vegetable mandi in the area.
“You had the government, you had the opportunity and this land was already here. No land had to be acquired for this fruit and vegetable mandi. It was lying unused,” he said.
CM Omar also said that if an MLA works with the concerned minister to prepare a project for the area, it should be seen as development work rather than a political issue.
He expressed confidence that the Gulmarg-Tangmarg constituency would emerge among the most developed constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, saying development works had already begun and were progressing rapidly.
CM Omar also announced that the Mini Secretariat at Tangmarg, whose work had been initiated during his earlier government but remained incomplete, would be completed and handed over to the people during the current year.
Earlier, the Chief Minister visited a Kisan Mela showcasing key government initiatives and innovations in agriculture and horticulture.
Agriculture Minister Javid Ahmed Dar and Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani spoke on the occasion and highlighted government initiatives and achievements in agriculture and allied sectors.
MLA Gulmarg-TangmargPirzada Farooq Ahmed Shah said the Chief Minister had accelerated development across Jammu and Kashmir since assuming office, with particular focus on the Gulmarg-Tangmarg constituency. He alleged that the opposition was unable to accept the pace of ongoing development.
Rajya Sabha MP Gurwinder Singh Oberoi, MLA Beerwah Dr Shafi Ahmed Wani, MLA Baramulla Javed Hassan Beigh, MLA PattanJavedReyazBedar, MLA Uri Dr Sajjad Shafi and MLA Kreeri-WagooraIrfan Hafiz Lone were present on the occasion.
Director Horticulture, Planning and Marketing J&K Ghulam Jeelani Zargar, Director Agriculture Kashmir Sartaj Ahmed Shah and Director Horticulture Kashmir Vikas Anand, besides senior officers of Agriculture and allied departments, also attended the programme.
