Jammu, Jan 18: A deputation of Apni Party on Thursday met Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, Atal Dulloo here at the Civil Secretariat in Jammu to discuss various development-related issues regarding Kupwara and Chadoora.
The deputation was led by Party’s District President Kupwara, ex-MLA, Raja Manzoor, Media Advisor, Farooq Andrabi, Ex-Chairman, Chadoora, Fahad Andrabi, Prof G. M. Paul, the party said in a statement.
During their meeting with the Chief Secretary, Raja Manzoor Khan also demanded that the SDH Tangdhar, Karnah should also be upgraded from 30 beds to 100 beds and proper facilities should be provided to the patients with the introduction of modern equipment and trained staff members and doctors.
Referring to the proposed widening work of NHW-701, he said that the proposed widening work on National Highway has distressed people and the shopkeepers with the possibility of their displacement, especially the shopkeepers. The government should take a humanitarian view of the situation to protect the livelihood of the people, and their residential houses by providing them suitable rehabilitation alternatives, he said.
He added, “We are unaware of the status of the tender for the feasibility of a tunnel at Sadhana. Therefore, the Chief Secretary was requested to ensure that a tunnel at Sadhana should be constructed. The people should also be informed about the status of the feasibility tunnel at Sadhana.”
Khan also said that the important tourist and religious designation, Sadhana Pass, faces problems because of the physical checking of the vehicles and commuters.
Another issue he raised was the construction of a sports stadium at Lontha in Karnah to encourage sportsmanship among the youth. For this purpose, he demanded that additional funds should be allocated to the concerned department to acquire more land to construct a sports stadium.
The Apni Party delegation also highlighted the concerns of the power consumers in Karna-Kupwara in the wake of resentment against the power department for hiking the electricity tariff.
“The government should provide a relief to the power consumers especially to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) consumers so that they are not overburdened with the increased power tariff,” he said while seeking the attention of the Chief Secretary.
After hearing the Apni Party deputation carefully, the Chief Secretary assured them that he would look into the demands, and accordingly, they shall be addressed.
Besides, Farooq Andrabi and other leaders in the deputation highlighted the demands regarding development in Kupwara and Chadoora. Andrabi demanded the upgradation of the Sub District Hospital (SDH) Chadoora with adequate staff and hi-tech infrastructure to cater for the needs of the surrounding people.
He also demanded the construction of playgrounds in Chadoora with the release of adequate funds and land allocation for the same.
