Strategic rail and road projects in Jammu & Kashmir approved for construction
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Besides the strong defence rationale, these projects satisfy the competing and persistent demands for connectivity projects in Jammu and Kashmir regions.
1. Jammu-Poonch railway line (234km, Rs 2370cr, 3years): It will pass through all major towns of Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts. Unfortunately, this project was kept pending by the previous UPA govt. So to assuage the population of Jammu (esp. Rajouri & Poonch districts), budgetary allocation and construction will be hastened to start before LS elections.
2. Jammu-Poonch NH (Rs 5199cr): Jammu-Akhnoor stretch is already under construction. Now construction of Akhnoor-Rajouri-Poonch stretch will be taken up shortly.
3. Baramulla-Kupwara railway line: Update survey will be done before work starts on this northward extension of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link, to Kupwara close to LOC (Baramulla & Kupwara are frontier districts).
Besides the strong defence rationale, these projects satisfy the competing and persistent demands for connectivity projects in Jammu and Kashmir regions.
1. Jammu-Poonch railway line (234km, Rs 2370cr, 3years): It will pass through all major towns of Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts. Unfortunately, this project was kept pending by the previous UPA govt. So to assuage the population of Jammu (esp. Rajouri & Poonch districts), budgetary allocation and construction will be hastened to start before LS elections.
2. Jammu-Poonch NH (Rs 5199cr): Jammu-Akhnoor stretch is already under construction. Now construction of Akhnoor-Rajouri-Poonch stretch will be taken up shortly.
3. Baramulla-Kupwara railway line: Update survey will be done before work starts on this northward extension of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link, to Kupwara close to LOC (Baramulla & Kupwara are frontier districts).
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- Good industrial package for J&K
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Though Centre has been generous in sanctioning funds for various development projects, this industrial development package (signed on 22nd December) was desperately needed to turnaround the industrial fortunes of the state. In fact, it is a little better than the support given to NE India.
Centre will want to be seen as strongly backing the aspirations of the Jammu region–a key political constituency for the ruling party–as it is the most industrialised part of J&K state.
5 yr package will help MSME by giving:
1. Relief on Plant & Machinery (up to Rs 5cr) for any significant expansion of existing business, as well as new business.
2. Income tax reimbursement for transportation (rail, water, air)
3. 3.67% additional relief on employer's contribution to EPF
4. A simpler mechanism for GST rebate.
REPLY 11w - Projects announced for Jammu & Kashmir by PM Modi
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❖ IIT, IIM, AIIMS, Metro
❖ Ring Roads, Zojilla tunnel, 4-lane Jammu–Akhnoor and Jammu–Srinagar highways
❖ Baramulla–Kupwara railway link, Manali–Bilaspur–Leh rail link
❖ Tawi riverfront, Devika river project
❖ Shahpur Kandi agreement, Ujh multipurpose project
❖ Bio-Technology Park, Jammu Zoo
❖ National Institute of High Altitude Medicinal Plants at Bhaderwah, Horticulture University at Kashmir
Have faith in PM Modi
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The duo of PM Modi and BJP President Amit Shah have taken BJP to the pinnacle of politics with more than 19 states whereas BJP was ruling in just 7 states when Modi took over as PM. Practically speaking, they have turned the party into election machine, ready to take on the opposition on any turf.
The decimation of Congress in NE states, inroads in West Bengal and Odisha, and the emergence of BJP as the single largest party in the Assembly elections of Karnataka are a testimony of their dedication towards the party. It’s not easy by any standards to win so many states pan-India as it requires the round-the-clock mobilization of resources, motivating of party workers and most importantly, a good strategy. Party manifesto and state vision documents are of utmost importance as these reflect party’s future vision for the said state. As of now, through manifesto, each party is trying to outsmart the other with freebies, so much so, that even voters know these promises are never meant to be kept.
Interestingly, BJP’s manifesto in parliamentary elections and vision document during State Assembly elections were miles apart. On the national front, the party has a clear stand on scrapping of Article 370 and Article 35A but both these things were missing from vision document during Assembly elections. Sensing the sensitivity of these two articles among Kashmiri voters, BJP as a strategy kept the lid on controversial articles. And the ensuing alliance with PDP compelled BJP to drop these two issues. Removal of army bunker from main bazaar Handwara, registration of FIRs against army men, ceasefire during Ramzan were few other initiatives that BJP supported despite the fact all these things were detrimental to their electoral prospects. BJP has promised PDP to never raised these issues during their coalition with PDP and in the process faced considerable resentment from its vote bank of Jammu Division.
PM Modi had a vision of development for our state right from the beginning, be it the decision to celebrate his first Diwali as PM in Kashmir after ravaging floods of 2014, or the Rs 80,000 crore package announcement. Galaxy of newly approved projects is proof of the seriousness of his approach and commitment for J&K.
You may think of a project anywhere in India and it is approved for J&K. With the states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu still struggling to get AIIMS, Jammu and Kashmir got two approved, which keeping in view the population and size of our state is very exceptional.
He is a man of vision without any doubt and expected his alliance partner to be in sync with his intentions to get our troubled state out of the quagmire of disturbances. But as they say, some never learn lessons from history and truth is history also never spares such leaders. Instead of spending eighty thousand crores for transforming the infrastructure of the state, PDP had its own agenda of obstruction. Each and every project could not come out of the incubation period itself as roadblocks in the shape of land allocation were hurdled. Each and every selection list was Kashmir-centric and even posts of ADCs were manipulated to ferment trouble in BJPs vote bank area.
Mishandling of Rasana rape episode by PDP, as Home Ministry was with CM herself, further dented BJP’s image in Jammu as its 25 MLAs were mute spectators only as any protest came with a threat of resignation by CM. After many deliberations, BJP ultimately decided to call it a day finally in June this year. With this ended the turmoil of the alliance and Central Government was in a position to implement its own vision for Jammu and Kashmir especially for Jammu and Ladakh.
It’s not that Modi–Shah duo was not apprehending trouble from Mehbooba Mufti and as such Sajjad Lone of People’s Conference has been groomed and smartly kept on board by BJP right from Vajpayee’s era when Sajjad was provided security cover after denial of the same by the local state administration. His meeting with PM Modi was a game-changer as after the meeting he termed Modi as his ‘Bada Bhai’. He was rewarded when on PM Modi’s intervention he was inducted into the cabinet from BJP’s quota. Most important is Sajjad Lone’s statement in Assembly where he accused UPA Government of denying him a passport for ten years along with denials of visas to his children. More remarkable is his statement, “May Allah bless Modi”.
After the collapse of BJP- PDP alliance, Sajjad became the central political figure of Kashmir. With the announcement of panchayat and ULB elections and subsequent boycott calls by both NC and PDP, Sajjad Lone got the requisite opportunity to make his moves. BJP also made its move and got several migrants as its winning candidates. Rebel NC spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu became the Mayor of Srinagar with the help of PC and BJP. Cornered from all sides NC, PDP, Congress came together to recover their lost ground but it was too late as Governor immediately dissolved the assembly and rumbles in PDP became more visible as after dissolution of assembly Imran Raza Ansari joined the third front of Sajjad Lone, former FM Haseeb Drabu resigned from PDP and at one point even Muzaffar Hussain Beigh of PDP showed inclination in joining the third front of Lone. Former FM Haseeb Drabu’s statement that the party has changed after the demise of Mufti Sahib is quite significant.
At present, it seems as if by promoting Sajjad Lone BJP has let cat among pigeons and recent tweet of bonhomie between Mehbooba and Omar is a testimony to how uneasy these two parties are right now. Moves of senior Jammu-based Congress leaders also make things interesting, with rumours that they too are ready to jump ship at the first suitable opportunity.
After the imposition of Governor’s rule, BJP made a decisive move by appointing SP Malik, first political Governor of J & K in place of N.N.Vohra. Ever since his oath ceremony, SP Malik seems to be a tiger on the prowl. ↴
List ▬⦠ His interaction with media persons at regular intervals, cancellation of Reliance Insurance contract, establishing SAB (State Anticorruption Bureau), bringing J & K bank under RTI despite quite visible opposition from Kashmir centric parties, his intent to simplify procedure in getting PRCs, increasing honorarium of thirty thousand SPOs, handing over of land for AIIMS, whole land of IIT-IIM handed over, start of Ring Road project, start of work on Jammu Akhnoor road project, work allotment of 317 out of 348 projects for power infrastructure up gradation, clearance for Rattle hydroelectric project, first ever gas pipeline, Jalandhar- Samba- Amargarh 400 KV transmission line, rail link between Baramulla to Kupwara, 175 pending declarations issued for roads, bridges, declarations for Baramulla-Srinagar- Udhampur railway line land acquisition, proposed shifting of oil depots from Narwal to Bajalta, creation of 20,000 teachers posts to overcome SSA crisis are few initiatives which clearly indicate Central Government’s sincere efforts to compensate for the time lost to PDP-BJP alliance, taking the remedial course through Governor’s rule ⟀◘
If media reports are to be believed a separate division for Ladakh is on cards, thereby ending 71 years of discrimination with Ladakh. How can one justify 59,000 square km area of Ladakh being governed by 16,000 sq.km Kashmir and in peak winters how many days Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir can spend in Leh, Kargil or for that matter visit far-flung areas of Nubra, Sankhoo, Batalik or Zanskar? With a separate division, the always neglected Ladakh will get its due recognition and its development will be on track.
Mayor of Srinagar, Junaid Azim Mattu has already shown his intent with the full-time focus on public issues -- as such, Mayor of Jammu should follow the same. Mistakes committed by BJP ministers and MLAs must not be repeated. Selection of suitable candidates for upcoming elections is most important for BJP as MLAs from RS Pura and Chenani have created problems for party, time and again on one or another pretext. BJP will be contemplating giving tickets to some of their corporators based on their performance.
Modi–Shah duo it seems have done their homework well in advance. No stone-pelting, no protests in Kashmir, army doing its job, successful completion of elections are all positive signs. With the elections over in five states, one can expect another visit of PM for the stone-laying of important development projects and announcement for some more projects. There is still time left for a schedule of elections for J and K to be announced and one hopes for many more corrective measures from Governor to give patriotic people of Jammu and Ladakh their due share. After these entire initiatives, one can have faith in PM Modi as for Jammu and Ladakh ‘Achae din aanae walae haen.’
REPLY 11w - PM Modi spells out the work done for NE India
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PM Modi's speech at the inauguration of Bogibeel bridge on Brahmaputra river in AssamREPLY 11w - North East - development and protection
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The NE region comprises eight and a half states and nearly 5 cr people. It is a frontier region, and a strategically important one, that shares borders with five countries including the disputed border with China. Its location is fortuitous as it can serve as a land bridge between India and SE Asia.
Unfortunately, North East lies on the wrong side of the narrow Siliguri corridor and is prone to disruptions as it is supported by a single road axis. Lack of connectivity and infrastructure has led to isolation and neglect of the people and contributed to various insurgencies. As of now, these incidents are mostly well managed and at subcritical levels.
The NE region is also one of India’s least developed and most deprived regions. To ensure peace, stability, and development, it is imperative to build good connectivity as well as reduce deprivation by providing economic growth, education, health care, and other civilian amenities.
New thrust to people-centric & strategic infra
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On 26th December, PM Modi inaugurated the Bogibeel Bridge, the 4.97 km-long structure that spans the mighty Brahmaputra River, from Dibrugarh in Assam to Dhemaji in Arunachal Pradesh. He gave a further thrust to connectivity when he announced a package of Rs 70,000cr to build 15 new railway lines and over 5,500-Km of NH. Support for tourism will help realise the potential of NE as one of the most scenic and serene places in India.
With the serviceable period of around 120 years and India’s longest railroad bridge, Assam’s Bogibeel Bridge is expected to play a significant role in troop movements along the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh.
CHINESE FACTOR and the sublime neglect by India
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The 3488-km long India-China border is the longest and the most peaceful disputed border in the world, with the last shot in anger fired in October of 1975! However, the dispute remains a potential driver for conflict; and given the emerging geostrategic construct —of China asserting itself as a global power— it is imperative that India builds capabilities and enhances capacities to protect its interests in the NE.
China has already built a world-class, state of the art, multi-dimension infrastructure in Tibet, which includes vast road and rail networks, airfields, oil pipelines, logistic installations, and warehousing. China has used this infrastructure to integrate Tibet, settle its Han majority population thereby changing the demographics to a less hostile one, and more importantly it has enhanced the military might along the Indian front. China has constructed over 60,000km of road, 9 Air Strips, 1956km of railways to Lhasa, and is currently extending the railways to Nepal and Yatung, close to Sikkim and the Doklam standoff site.
On the other hand, it was only recently that the Indian government decided to upgrade roads, tunnels, and airfields in the border areas. The China Study Group in 2005 had approved 73 roads to be constructed along the borders and to be completed by 2012. Out of this, 27 roads have been completed while the remaining will be completed by December 2022.
The strategic roads envisaged in 2005 are still a work in progress whereas the need and demand for more roads have grown exponentially both for defense and development requirements. It has been over a year since India and China ended the 73-day standoff at Doklam. For all the focus on Sino-Indian relations, and the peaceful resolution of the crisis it should be noted that Doklam is one of the few exceptions, where the Indian military has an advantage over China’s PLA because of its better road connectivity. The road to Doka La was constructed as an operational track during my tenure in 2011—despite the lack of environmental clearances and other hurdles!
REPLY 11w
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