Srinagar, Sep 18: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference general secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar on Monday said Srinagar city has become a “byword for failed governance, mismanagement and underdevelopment”, saying it is at the brink due to the absence of any holistic renewal mission.
While expressing concern over the “indifference” of the incumbent J&K government towards maintenance, and upgradation of civic amenities and infrastructure in Srinagar city, Sagar said the present regime has turned its back on the development requirements of the city. “The infrastructure one gets to see around in the Srinagar city in terms of recreational parks, sewage treatment plants, drains had come up during the NC led governments. In the health sector also the upgradation and augmentation of infrastructure at major and minor public hospitals in the city took place during the last NC-led government,” he said.
He said the incumbent J&K government is deliberately meting out step-motherly treatment to the people of Srinagar. “The last time the suburbs of Srinagar had seen some development activity picking up in their locales was when Omar Abdullah was CM. Primary, secondary and tertiary health care centres haven’t seen any amplification in their basic infrastructure. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that it has hit an all-time high,” he said.
Sagar added, “There is no accountability and semblance of good governance on the ground. The widespread disarray and unaccountability that has beset the administration in J&K has plunged the urban life of Srinagar city into chaos. Drudging of the city’s waterways, installation of additional water pumps, macadamisation of interior alleys and roadways have been left in limbo. The administration has also miserably failed to upkeep the important landmarks, heritage buildings and shrines in Srinagar.”
The NC leader also drew the attention of the government towards the “increasing unemployment” in Srinagar, saying, “Measures like special placement drives, and introduction of skill development courses in city colleges, doling out of bank loans for urban youth and special employment drives have all been forgotten by J&K administration. On the contrary, it has choked the already diminutive avenues of employment for city youth by coming up with new domicile law.”
