Will go all out to connect far-off areas: Chief Minister

Tribune News Service

Jammu/Udhampur, April 29

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today promised to break new ground by annihilating distances and adding value to the lives of people living in remote and inaccessible areas of the state.

She described bridges as a key component of rural infrastructure.

Mehbooba congratulated the Rural Development Department (RDD) and Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary for their trendsetting initiative of adopting the convergence model.

“Today, we are witnessing at Udhampur what Mufti Saheb had envisioned during the District Development Board meetings, in which he used to emphasise on convergence models to create sustained infrastructure,” she said.

The Chief Minister said this while addressing a gathering after e-inaugurating 56 small bridges (footbridges) under Project Rahat in Udhampur today. She also inaugurated Model Girls Higher Secondary School, Udhampur, as part of the Model School Scheme of the Education Department.

Speaking on the occasion, the CM said Udhampur district had shown the way in how the convergence model could be put together to create assets worth crores. She said other Deputy Commissioners needed to take a cue from Udhampur in convergence. She said all district hospitals would be upgraded as model hospitals in the state, adding one maternity-cum-childcare hospital will be set up in each constituency of the state.

Earlier, she dedicated 56 small bridges constructed under the first phase of Project Rahat, being executed at a cost of Rs 18.50 crore.

Welcomes Indo-Pak talks

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday welcomed the Foreign Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan, saying, “J&K will benefit immensely if the two neighbours come together and engage in a meaningful dialogue.”

“I hope the two neighbours will be able to break the ice so that lasting peace is established in the region,” she told reporters during her visit to Udhampur.

She said Islam was a religion of peace and tolerance, adding that a majority of the Muslims believed in peaceful coexistence, including the Muslims of India. “This is the reason why Indian Muslims are respected all over the world despite a cloud of suspicion hovering over Muslims at the global level.

“It pains me when I see hapless people in Syria, Libya and Pakistan being sucked into the vortex of violence for no fault of theirs,” she added.

Mehbooba said she was happy that despite the Pathankot incident, the two countries had carried forward their engagement, indicating their commitment to firmly entrenching peace in the region.