Road to SA's stability passes through J&K: Mufti

Road to SA's stability passes through J&K: Mufti
Jammu, February 18 – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has said the road to peace, stability, progress and prosperity in South Asia passes through Jammu & Kashmir.
Addressing a function organized in connection with the joining of Lok Jan Shakti (LJP) and BSP leaders from Jammu region in PDP here today, Sayeed said amicable settlement the problem of Jammu & Kashmir offers the only opportunity of a breakthrough for India and Pakistan to co-exist peacefully and to the benefit of one of the largest human masses of the world. He said Jammu & Kashmir, in recent years has shown the way forward and it is for New Delhi and Islamabad to respond positively to the people's yearning for peace and a permanent settlement of the issue.
The PDP Patron said continuation of the historic peace process set off on 18th April 2003 by the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and carried on by his successor Dr Manmohan Singh was a historical necessity. "Neither country could afford to go back on it, nor would Kashmir issue disappear by whatever else happens around it," he said.
Referring to the internal dimension of the problem of Jammu & Kashmir, Sayeed said there were important and well-defined issues to be resolved between the State and the Union. "Most of them had been covered by the Working Groups constituted by the Prime Minister," he said and added these recommendations should not prove mere pieces of paper and would have to be acted upon in the interest of the people of the State and the country. The PDP, he said will with all its public support work for implementation of these recommendations for the larger public good.
Mufti said the current crisis on economic, financial and infrastructure fronts confronting the State, can't be met with small-time responses of the Government. He said patchworks can't improve the quality of life of the State's people and the larger issue of exploitation of State's water and land resources has to be addressed to take care of the State's development needs in the 21st century.
The PDP Patron said all regions of the State are facing economic deprivation because of wanton exploitation of our water and natural resources. He said economic empowerment of the common people including our youth can be achieved only if we have a free and unlimited access to our own resources.
"The Central Government will only have to create an enabling atmosphere in which we can seek and receive direct financial investment in the State," Sayeed said. Unfortunately, this has been discouraged in J&K and instead our water resources were usurped first in the 1950's by sealing the rights on them to the central government under the Indus Water Treaty and later during the last National Conference regime that signed away all the major identified power projects mostly on Chenab and Jehlum to the NHPC, he said. "This unimaginative action has now rendered the State to economic destitution with the Doda and Kishtwar districts today facing a double-edged weapon," he said and demanded review of all such actions that are detrimental to the State's economic interests.
The PDP Patron said even the Working Groups and the Prime Minister's Special Task Force on Economic Development of Jammu & Kashmir have strongly recommended transfer of Center-owned power projects to the State. "The Government of India must act on these recommendations with sincerity of purpose to address the State's economic and financial woes," he said.
On this occasion LJP leaders Rafiq Malik (State President), Dinesh Verma (Senior Vice-President), Showkat Ali (President Kissan Cell), Gurdeep Singh Pandey (State President Youth), Sanjay Bhagat (State Secretary), Tilak Rak (General Secretary Dalit Sena), Khakhan Babar (State Secretary), Mulkh Raj (State Secretary), Jagtar Singh (District President), Arvind Malhotra (Convener) and BSP State Secretary Kapoor Chand Baghat alongwith their supporters joined the PDP.
Rafiq Malik, Showkat Ali, Gurdeep Singh Panday and Sanjay Bhagat had contested the recent assembly elections as the candidates of their respective parties.
PDP leaders Ved Mahajan, Sardar Rangil Singh, Trilok Singh Bajwa, Dhaman Bhasin, Mohammad Dillawar Mir, Murtaza Khan, Sardar Manjeet Singh, Shanti Devi, Chodhary Nizam-ud-Din Khatana, Asghar Ali, Falail Singh, Bladev Salathia, Rashid Malik and Balbir Singh were present on the occasion.

Restore and Preserve Heritage Gardens, develop commercial Floriculture: Pl. Secretary, Agriculture Prod. & Floriculture Department

Srinagar, February 18- Principal Secretary Agriculture and Floriculture Mrs. Sonali Kumar reviewed the physical progress of developmental works taken up by Floriculture department and visited Mughal Gardens Nishat and Shalimar to take stock of the on-going heritage restoration and preservation works taken up in these gardens few months back. She stressed the need for preparation of detailed project report in consultation with experts of "Indian National Trust of Art Culture and Heritage" (INTACH) Chapter, J&K, for submission to the government, so that such works are taken up with continuity for completion in a phased manner.
Mrs. Sonali Kumar expressed satisfaction to see that the Hamam which is about 600 years old, having scientifically laid heating and insulation, bathing tub, and four adjacent rooms. She directed the Director Floriculture, Dr.G.S.Naqash to use the space in Hamam as museum. During excavation of Hamam, tiles and earthen pots of Mughal period have been dug out which have been preserved. As per reports of INTACH excavated tiles of the Mughal period are first of its kind in the country.
The Principal Secretary also inspected restoration works of the neglected Baradari and fountain system in the 12th terrace of Nishat garden and appreciated the role of the department of Floriculture for taking up these works on a war footing for restoration and preservation of heritage.
Mrs. Sonali Kumar also visited the Plant Introduction Section of the department at Cheshmashahi. She evinced keen interest in development of germ-plasm bank and propagation of different kinds of ornamental plants and flowers under green house cultivation. She also inspected the Tulip Garden and discussed the preparedness of the department for ensuing tulip bloom.
While inspecting the work of the department on commercial development of floriculture in a big way, Dr.Naqash apprised her about the experimental trial taken up for the first time in entire country regarding use of Tulip as cut flower. She was enthused to observe the practical and commercial aspect of the trial and advised Director to show this successful trial to the flower growers for future commercial production of Tulip as cut flower.
While inspecting Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden, she ordered its immediate revival and completion before tourist season.