Will bridge gap between rural and urban J&K, says L-G Sinha

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has reaffirmed his commitment to bridging the gap between rural and urban J&K and ensuring prosperity. He said the truest evidence of the central government’s commitment to J&K can be seen in its performance over the last five-six years.

The Lieutenant Governor highlighted the significance of cleanliness drives to promote public health and well-being, and to foster community participation for happier and healthier villages.

Addressing the ‘Swachhata Vijayotsav’ organised by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj under ‘Sewa Parv’ here today, the L-G said, “Initiatives under education, social welfare, rural development, urban development and healthcare are integral to building a just and inclusive society. We must push through challenges to achieve the goals of a prosperous rural J&K,” he said.

Sinha directed a dedicated environmental protection awareness campaign for rural J&K. “‘Sewa Parv’ should not be viewed in isolation. It must be integrated into life. We must work towards creating a unified national identity to ensure the welfare and prosperity of all,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

Asserting that climate change is a reality that people should realise, Sinha also called for a crackdown on encroachments along water bodies in the Union Territory and urged people and the administration to create a movement for it.

The L-G termed the recent floods in Jammu as a major catastrophe in the region unseen in the past, and said that losses have also been enormous with more than 4,000 houses damaged, over 3,237 kilometres of roads affected and more than 70 major bridges destroyed.

“We exhort the officials to crack down on encroachments along the water bodies. Citizens must report encroachments on natural resources in their respective areas to the authorities. Let us unite to rebuild a stronger, more secure future,” the L-G further said.

“Along with the administration, I also appeal to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir that it is their moral responsibility to prevent illegal construction and encroachment around riverbanks and water bodies,” he added.

He said that when the administration tries to remove encroachments, many people take to the streets. “But the devastation we have witnessed gives us an opportunity for self-reflection — we must think about how to create a safe and sustainable system.”

The lieutenant governor impressed upon the people of J&K to look into two major issues confronting the UT and their responsibilities toward them. “The first responsibility is to restore the lives of those whose lives have been disrupted due to floods and human-induced causes. At the same time, people must be made to fully understand the reality of climate change, as the scale of damage is continuously increasing. This message must be conveyed at the rural and panchayat levels.”

Cong raises issue of flood relief with L-G

Jammu: A J&K Congress delegation, led by working president Raman Bhalla, met the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha at the Raj Bhawan here and submitted a detailed memorandum about the loss due to recent rains, floods and landslides.

The delegation sought a comprehensive package from the Centre for the relief and rehabilitation of the affected people and the restoration and reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure, declaring it as a national disaster. The memorandum also referred to the tragedy in Choshati in Kishtwar followed by Vaishno Devi shrine and and demanded a high-level independent probe to fix the responsibility.