Srinagar, July 17 (KNO) : National Conference on Wednesday expressed dismay over the sluggish pace of development work in the Shar- e- Khas areas, saying the incumbent governor administration has miserably failed to address the development demands of old city area of Srinagar.
According to a statement issued to KNO, Party general secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar while touring the old city areas of Khanyar Constituency made brief stopovers at various localities. Sagar interacted with the local people who apprised him about the range of issues their localities are plagued with. The locals apprised the party general secretary about the slow pace of work on various important projects.
While concluding his tour Sagar censured the incumbent governor administration for its listless approach towards the augmentation of infrastructure in the Sharhar- e- Khas, areas. “The fate of the work on various historical projects in the old city has been put into a limbo. The work on various projects as have received the nod of both the finance and planning department is yet to take off.
The prestigious Hari Parbat Fort restoration, the beautification of Baba Dem has been stalled. The expansion of infrastructure at Jamia Masid, Naqshband Sahib and Dastagir Sahib is also marred by government apathy. Out of many big projects only few are being worked upon by the incumbent administration.”
Sagar said unemployment in old city areas is at all time high. “The youth of the old city are beset with gloom in wake of bleak employment opportunities. The traditional handicraft sector of the city has also been affected direly as a consequence of Implementation of GST. Scores of families associated with this sector have switched their occupations. Last time any special employment drive was done, was during our tenure.
However nothing substantial has been done towards giving jobs to jobless youth of old city. The flagship employment programmes of Udhaan, Himayat, and SKEPY, which were initiated by the former Omar Abdullah led government hasn’t received any necessary thrust after 2015. The menace of drug abuse is growing; the youth of the city especially the Shahar e Khas areas is feeling dejected. The degree of alienation of the youth living in old city areas is increasing day by day,” he said adding, “the main arterials of the old city are battered and dotted with potholes.
The torrential rains have blocked various drains at different places. The administration has miserably failed to upkeep the community centers, parks in the old city areas. The commuters are facing torment due to foul smell emanating from garbage dumps, which unfortunately haven’t caught the attention of concerned agencies. The parks of the city are full of litter.”
Sagar said the work on much touted smart city project, ring road project, Babademb beautification are yet to see the light of day. “The much prized heritage character of the Shaher e khas has been ignored whenever NC was not in power. Whatever good was attained in terms of infrastructure has been achieved during successive NC led governments,” he said.(KNO)