Srinagar, Nov 1: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that ending Darbar Move practice in Jammu and Kashmir was injustice with the Jammu region and it was ended.
Addressing a gathering after laying a foundation stone of widening and four-laning of Boulevard Road, Omar questioned the decision to end the Darbar Move, calling it unfair to Jammu.“It was not the legacy of Sheikh Abdullah, Dr. Farooq Abdullah or anyone else; it existed even before 1947. I did not have a single MLA from Jammu, but I saw that ending the Darbar Move was injustice to the region. That’s why I restored it,” he said.
The Chief Minister demanded accountability in the utilization of World Bank funds sanctioned in the aftermath of the devastating 2014 floods.
Omar said files should be reopened to ascertain what happened to the flood relief money and the funds meant for dredging the Jhelum and Wular lakes.
“We have the right to ask what has been done for Srinagar city to save it from floods. What steps were taken after 2014? What happened to the World Bank money? Who misused the funds meant for dredging the Jhelum? Who was the minister at that time, and where did that money go?” he asked.
The Chief Minister said that after just a few days of recent rainfall, Srinagar was again on the verge of flooding. “Had it rained for another 24 hours, the city would have been underwater,” he remarked.
Questioning the alleged neglect of summer capital, Omar said, “What has been done for Srinagar all these years? Why has it been sidelined and ignored? We don’t see religion, region, or caste – we see who deserves what. We do not do injustice.”
The Chief Minister said Srinagar has been subjected to “injustice since 2015” and that there has not been a single new project started to benefit the city.
“If we dig deep, we will not find anything. It is neither costly nor difficult – what’s needed is a decision. It seems that the things left in 2014 still stand where they were,” he said.
Citing examples, Omar said the Qamarwari Bridge, which was started in 2011 and halted after 2014, “took 15 years to complete.”
“In my previous Government, we had planned a project to reduce traffic congestion on the Boulevard, but the succeeding government put a stay on it, and it remained on paper,” he said.
He said his Government had developed a new garden, Gul-e-Daood, at the Botanical Garden in just nine months.
“Only two new gardens have come up in the last 20 years. What has been done in Srinagar for its beautification or infrastructural development?” he asked.
The Chief Minister said the new block of the Bone and Joint (B&J) Hospital was completed recently by the present government. He also pointed to the issue of housing, where many families continue to live in congested conditions, especially in the old city.
“After years, a housing project has finally been started at Bemina, which will include people from the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS),” he said.
Calling for a shift in urban planning to address Srinagar’s growing population and limited land resources, Omar said, “We have to change our ways. There’s a shortage of land, and we cannot create more. We don’t live near the sea where, like Dubai or Muscat, land can be reclaimed. We only have Dal Lake – and we have to save it.”
He said more bridges, and wider roads were essential to ease congestion. “The more bridges we have on the Jhelum, the less traffic congestion there will be,” he added.
The Chief Minister said his Government had planned to build a bridge near the Convent, which the succeeding Government turned into a footbridge.
“We will revive that project. It will be a two-storeyed bridge – one level for pedestrians and another for vehicles,” he said.
Regarding the four-laning of the Boulevard Road, Omar said that from Dalgate to Nehru Park, the Government is contemplating having one tube underground and one open.
“Since there are properties along the stretch, we are thinking this is the way out. This is the only viable solution to address traffic congestion. Estimates will be prepared, and we will beg Delhi for funds – we have that habit,” he said with a hint of sarcasm.
The Chief Minister said the widening of the Boulevard stretch will not only decongest traffic but also enhance the aesthetic and tourism value of the Dal Lake precincts.
He said the Government is not asking people to wait for five years to see promises being fulfilled. “We are saying we will fulfill our promises and go to the people only after doing that,” he said.
“There will be hurdles, but we will overcome them. We may be pushed back, but we will not be afraid – because our intentions are right,” he added.
