Srinagar, Mar 16 (KNS): Congress leader Kadfeen Choudhary on Saturday questioned the government over the tall promises it made to turn the twin capitals in Jammu and Kashmir into smart cities, stating that not even a smart street was found during the BJP rule in Jammu and Kashmir.
Kadfeen said that like other states of the country, state of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed the worst development deficit during the BJP rule and that major developmental projects have gone into limbo and there are plethora of others that have been limited to the papers only.
The Congress leader stated that the creation of smart cities in Jammu as well as in Srinagar proved nothing but a mere hoax as there has been no forward movement vis-a-vis making the project visible on the ground.
He maintained that the Smart Cities Mission was launched by the Prime Minister Smart City Mission—aimed at improving basic urban infrastructure in cities—was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2015. “The central government has sanctioned an estimated amount of 500 Crore rupees out of Prime Minister’s special package for the creation of smart cities in the twin capitals of the state. However, as per the government’s own figures, hardly a crore rupees out of the sanctioned Rs 500 Crores has been spent on the project so far. This proves how the innocent people of Jammu and Kashmir are taken for a ride with jumlaas being made without remorse or fear of any reprisal,” says Kadfeen.
He added that the people of the state are well aware of the fact that it was Congress party alone that gave development to priority and ushered new era of progress in the state otherwise used by the political groups to reap undue benefits. (KNS)