People have high hopes from NC MPs: Rattan Lal

Jammu, June 24: “After the failure of LG’s administration in resolving the burning public issues, people have now started pinning hopes on the newly elected MPs of National Conference from the union territory,” a senior NC leader said on Monday.
Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President JK NC Jammu in a statement said people have high expectations from the National Conference and it is the party’s responsibility to comprehensively address their aspirations.
“People have high hopes from the elected representatives as they firmly believe that these MPs will raise their issues in the Parliament for an early redressal because, under the LG’s administration, all their hopes have been shattered with the phlegmatic response of the present dispensation,” he said.
Gupta said unemployment is the biggest issue of J&K as the incumbent dispensation has failed to address this issue leading to frustration among the youngsters in J&K. He raised the issue of power shortage in the Union Territory, saying, “It is strange that the people sitting at the helm never get tired of self-praise when the issue of uninterrupted power supply is highlighted but on the ground things are contrary.”
He said power outage is a new norm in J&K with people living in both metered and non-metered areas facing unscheduled power cuts even during the extreme weather conditions. “Despite severe dearth of electricity in J&K, the government is not justified to sell power to Rajasthan. The NHPC has control over five hydel projects (power stations) including Salal (690 MW), Uri-I (480 MW), Dulhasti (390 MW), Sewa-II (120 MW) and Chutak (44 MW) totalling installed capacity of 1724 MW in Jammu and Kashmir but then also the major parts of the UT face acute power crisis,” he said, adding that the J&K government should take back these projects for fulfilling the local demand besides early expedite the construction of Sawalkote power project.
Rattan Lal said the industrial policy brought in with much fanfare has remained on paper only. “The sector is likely to remain sick with no changes on the ground as the people at the helm of affairs have drastically failed to win the confidence of investors as is evident by the fact that no major industry has been established in Jammu region in last 10 years,” he said, adding, “Even the dearth of potable water in the region also says it all about the inefficiency of the LG’s administration.”
The NC Provincial President expressed confidence that the elected MPs will raise all the issues of public interest in the Parliament and ensure that the demands highlighted should be acceded to by the concerned quarters and that things take concrete shapes in J&K.