Kulgam, Aug 07: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha graced the town of Kulgam as he inaugurated the Veshaw Literary Festival, a joint effort by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA) and the District Administration. The festival, dedicated to celebrating literature and fostering ideas, took on added significance as Lt. Governor Sinha underscored two crucial aspects in his address.
Firstly, he emphasized the importance of prudent power consumption and timely bill payment. Lt. Governor Sinha revealed ambitious plans to double the local power generation capacity to 6,800 MW within the next three years, calling for public participation in this ambitious endeavor.
Despite the region’s receipt of substantial electricity loans of 20,000 crore rupees from the central government, he assured uninterrupted power supply in fully metered areas and pledged zero electricity cut-offs. He urged the citizens to promptly settle their power bills to facilitate assistance for those genuinely struggling with expenses.
Addressing a different aspect of development, Lt. Governor Sinha stressed prudent power consumption and timely bill payment. Secondly, Lt Governor Sinha highlighted the administration’s commitment to aiding the needy.
While acknowledging the challenges faced by marginal farmers, LG Sinha also highlighted instances where affluent households own three-storied structures, iPhone 14 Pro devices, and 5G data services, yet resist power bill payments. He called for collaborative efforts between citizens and authorities to address such disparities.
“Over the last 70 years, local power generation in Jammu and Kashmir has reached a capacity of 3,400 MW. We plan to double this capacity within the next three years,” LG Sinha disclosed. He urged the public to actively participate in this ambitious endeavour, envisioning a harmonious and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir marked by peace and development.
He stated, “When individuals who have the means to pay their power bills fulfil their responsibilities, the administration can channel resources towards aiding those facing financial constraints. Responsible citizens should take the initiative to settle their bills without hesitation.”
Amid these vital concerns, the Lieutenant Governor inaugurated the Veshaw Literary Festival, praising the collaborative efforts of the IGNCA and the District Administration in fostering literary activities within Kulgam. He described literature as a transformative force that offers insights and thoughts fostering inner growth. He envisions the festival as a conduit to harness the power of ideas and spark imagination among the community.
Lt. Governor Sinha also acknowledged Jammu and Kashmir’s rich cultural identity and the role of literature and art in broadening horizons, nurturing intellectual growth, and providing diverse perspectives. He called for embracing the myriad linguistic flavors that literature offers, emphasizing their potential to illuminate and enlighten society.
Lt. Governor Sinha underlined Jammu and Kashmir’s unique cultural identity, celebrating it as a repository of traditional wisdom and knowledge nurtured by luminaries such as writers, artists, Rishis, and Sufis. He extolled the role of literature and art in broadening horizons, nurturing intellectual growth, and providing diverse perspectives.
“The world of literature and art serves as an expansive horizon, bestowing upon us boundless wisdom, intellectual stimulation, novel concepts, and diverse perspectives. We should embrace the myriad linguistic flavors that literature offers, for they hold the potential to illuminate and enlighten our society,” stated the Lieutenant Governor.
The Lieutenant Governor concluded by urging collaborative efforts between citizens and authorities to address disparities and neutralize societal challenges, including terrorism. He highlighted the need to ensure dignity, freedom of thought, and cultural expression while striving for a harmonious and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Sinha applauded the allocation of 05 Marla land to impoverished PMAY beneficiaries and the support extended to 7286 youth through diverse self-employment initiatives, demonstrating the administration’s efforts to drive social-economic parity, enhance the quality of life, and foster inclusive development in Jammu and Kashmir.
Prominent among those included Mohd Afzal Parrey, Chairman of District Development Council Kulgam; Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary; Vijay Kumar, ADGP Kashmir; Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Secretary of the Tourism Department; and Dr. Bilal Mohi-ud-din Bhat, Deputy Commissioner Kulgam.
