Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, April 24: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened multiple projects worth over ₹ 20,000 crore in Jammu and Kashmir including the Banihal-Qazigund tunnel and two hydroelectric projects aimed at “reducing Dilli Saey Doori (distance from Delhi)” during his first official visit to the new Union Territory on Sunday.
Modi told the youths of the region that they would not have to witness the miseries like the previous generations. “I want to tell the youth of J&K to have faith in my words. You will not see the miseries witnessed by your parents and grandparents. I promise I will make it happen.”
The Prime Minister had first used the phrase ‘ Dil ki aur Dilli say Doorian (distances of hearts and from Delhi)’ during the all-party meeting with J&K regional parties last year in New Delhi to address the regional aspirations.
Speaking on the National Panchayati Raj Day from Jammu’s Samba district, Modi said, “Neither this region is new for me, nor am I new for you.” while drawing parallel to the sweetness and richness of Dogri language and culture, he said the ‘ Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ initiative in the past eight years was aimed at reducing distances, while ‘ Dilli ki Doorian‘ was aimed at reducing the “cultural or linguistic distances.”
While addressing Gram Sabhas across the nation, Modi said “A new story of development is being written in Jammu & Kashmir. Many private investors are interested to come to J&K.” “This year’s Panchayati Raj Day, being celebrated in J&K marks a big change. It is a matter of great pride that when democracy has reached the grassroot level in J&K, I am interacting with you all from here,” the Modi said.
Top business leaders from the UAE are accompanying the PM on his visit, underlining the backing of industrialists and investors from a leading Islamic block as the BJP government seeks to pitch a new phase for J&K post-Article 370. Besides, the PM’s address, from Samba bordering Pakistan, coincides with the National Panchayati Raj Day, and will see participation of members of rural local bodies from across the state as a projection of grassroots democracy in the state. UAE firms are expected to propose investments amounting to over Rs 3,000 crore – a first for J&K’s infrastructure development.
Thousands attended the event, which was organised as the new Union Territory moves towards its first assembly elections. The delimitation process is currently in progress in Jammu and Kashmir, and a call will be taken next on assembly elections.
“In the last two or three years, Jammu and Kashmir has touched several milestones. Earlier governments wouldn’t implement central schemes here, we made it possible,” Modi said. “In six decades, only ₹ 17,000 crores were spent on the region. In two years, we have spent Rs 38,000 crore,” he added, targeting the National Conference and People’s Democratic Party, which ruled the erstwhile state in turns in alliance with the Congress or the BJP. Jammu and Kashmir has been under President’s Rule since 2018, when the BJP ended its ruling coalition with Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party.
Tight security has been put in place for the visit, which comes more than two years after the Centre scrapped the special status of Jammu and Kashmir granted in the Constitution and divided it into two Union Territories.
Modi laid the foundation for two hydroelectric projects — an 850 megawatt facility on the Chenab river in Kishtwar to be built at a cost of around ₹ 5,300 crore. The other is the 540 megawatt Kwar hydroelectric project, to be built on the same river at a cost of over ₹ 4,500 crore. ‘The 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric Project will be constructed on Chenab river in Kishtwar district at a cost of around Rs 5,300 crore. The 540 MW Kwar Hydroelectric Project will also be built on Chenab river in Kishtwar district at a cost of over Rs 4,500 crore. Both projects will help meet power requirements of the region,’ a statement released by the PMO said.
The Banihal-Qazigund tunnel — built at a cost of over ₹ 3,100 crore — is 8.45-km-long and will reduce the road distance between the two places by 16 km, and cut travel time by around one-and-a-half hours. He also laid the foundation stone of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway and inaugurated the 500KW Solar Power Plant at Palli village along with 108 Jan Aushadhi Kendras, in Samba.
Modi also launched the ‘Amrit Sarovar Mission’ that is aimed at developing and rejuvenating 75 waterbodies in each district of the country, as part of celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
Modi said the connectivity projects initiated across J&K and Ladakh would end the distances from Delhi and several new road projects between Srinagar and Delhi have already reduced the travel time by two hours. “The day is not far when the Kanyakumari Devi will be connected with the Mata Vaishno Devi by one road,” he added.
In the coming 25 years, Modi said, J&K would create a new era of development. “Investors from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) I met are excited to invest in J&K. From just ₹17,000 crore investment in the past 70 years, the figures have touched to ₹38,000 crores in just two years. Investors are coming here with an open mind,” Modi said. He said J&K was also witnessing a boom in tourism. “Kashmir recorded more tourists in just a few months this year than the past few years. This place is booked till June-July,” he added.
He claimed J&K would be an electricity surplus place soon. “Such projects will help J&K earn money and take J&K to a new height of development,” he added. He said ₹20,000 crore connectivity and electricity related projects was a big figure for a small state like J&K. “This will speed up development. A large number of youths will get employment,” he added.
He expressed satisfaction over the 175 Central laws being implemented in J&K since the August 5, 2019 move to end J&K special constitutional position. “This has benefited the women of J&K, Dalit, Balmiki etc. They got ‘azadi’ (freedom) after 70 years of ‘azadi’ and were granted equal rights,” Modi said.