Doda residents pin high hopes on Modi’s visit

Tribune News Service
Jammu, February 2

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting the state on Sunday to lay foundation stones of various developmental projects, people of Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts want a better deal for their area.

They are asking for more funds for projects and uplift of lives of people living in “deplorable conditions”.

The three districts, which are rich in water resources, minerals and forests, give a fillip to the economy of the state but have been deprived of basic necessities, including a proper road network, electricity, recruitment drives for locals in hydroelectric projects, better healthcare and quality higher educational institutes.

“Both state and Central governments earn crores of rupees from natural resources of Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts but in return, we have to face accidents on narrow roads. We also don’t get regular supply of electricity. The lives of people have become difficult,” Nisar Akhter, a Doda-based lawyer, said.

One of the biggest developmental projects underway in J&K is the north-south corridor work under which the Kashmir valley is being connected to the rest of country with a four-lane national highway but Doda and Kishtwar districts have been deprived of any such project. Talks of a rail link to other parts of the state are gaining momentum but so far, no one has thought of starting any project in this regard.

“We want upgrade of the existing 110-km Batote-Kishtwar national highway to four lanes like the Jammu-Srinagar highway. Doda and Kishtwar districts should get a share in electricity from local power projects and proper funds should be provided for developmental purposes,” said Shuhab-ul-Haq Butt, PDP district president, Doda.