Avtar Bhat
CHENANI (UDHAMPUR), July 23: Taking the separatists and their mentors across the border to task for present unrest in the Valley which has added to the sufferings of common man to a great extent, the Union Minister in PMO with independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that the post 1990 generation of Kashmiri youth are wise enough not to be enticed by the separatists and their mentors.
Talking to the media persons at the sidelines of a function at Chennai -Nashri tunnel near here today, Dr Singh said that this generation of youth can better understand their gains and losses than what Hurriyat and their mentors can teach them. “These youth have seen through the game plan of separatists and other subversive who bled the State for last over two decades now,” he added.
Dr Singh said it is time to address the issues of this generation of Kashmiri youth by educating them to take the advantage of policies and developmental programmes unleashed by Narendra Modi Government so that Jammu and Kashmir does not remain far behind from rest of the country.
Maintaining that India is at the centre stage of global economic growth, Dr Singh said it will be disservice to the youth of Kashmir if they are not made to avail the opportunity.
He said this generation of youth is not going to learn what the separatists and subversive elements are going to teach them as they have their independent thinking. “They know and better understand that the Kashmiris have been exploited over the years on the name of Jehad by separatists.”
Making a scathing attack on Pakistan, Dr Singh said the neighboring country has been totally exposed now for supporting terrorism and subversive activities in Kashmir. Earlier, Pakistan was denying its involvement in the terrorist activities in India saying that these were some non state actors. But now it has been fully exposed and what they say at present is self confession that Pakistan is involved in terrorist activities in India especially in view of Jamat-ul- Dawa militant Hafiz Syed’s confession that slain Hizbul commander Burhan Wani was in his contact before his killing.
Dr Singh said even Pakistan was supposed to curb the non state actors operating from its soil. However, now Pakistan has been totally isolated as world opinion comes round that Kashmir is a bilateral issue and the two countries should solve it between them.
Earlier, talking to engineers of the Project and local officers, Dr Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be requested to formally dedicate to public the Chenani-Nashri Tunnel on Jammu-Srinagar Highway which is in the final stage of its completion.
Dr Singh who is also the Lok Sabha MP from Udhampur-Kathua-Doda Constituency where the tunnel is coming up today visited the area to take the stock of progress of outstanding work. Accompanied by MLA Chenani, Dina Nath Bhagat, MLA Ramnagar, R S Pathania, District Administration officers, senior officers of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and functionaries of the IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd (ITNL), Dr Singh said it is not a tunnel but a monument and pride for nation.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, he had discussed the Tunnel project with the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari soon after the latter’s return from foreign visit two days back and given him an update of the current status of the work completion.
Describing it as one of the best tunnels to have been constructed in Asia, Dr Singh said, the tunnel is going to be a historic monument for whole of India, more so for the State of Jammu & Kashmir. He said, he felt particularly proud to note that India’s most modern state-of-the-art tunnel had come up in his Lok Sabha constituency and it was going to be dedicated to public during his term as MP from the area.
Dr Singh said, with the Tunnel becoming functional, the distance between Jammu and Srinagar will be reduced by 31 kms and in the years to come, with the construction of the proposed Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Express Highway, the total distance by road from Delhi to Jammu and Delhi to Srinagar will be reduced further.
Earlier, in a presentation made by officers of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the Project Manager, IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd (ITNL) J.S. Rathore, it was stated that the length of tunnel is over 9 kms and about 10.8 kms with approach roads included. It has two tunnels, one of which is the main two-lane tunnel and the other one is an escape tunnel. Constructed at a cost of Rs. 2519 cr, the work is being completed in a record period of 4 years.
However, Rathore said that there are still some incompletions and the formal inauguration of the tunnel will be made after micro level studies which will be followed up by overall review and finalization of date.
He said there is no possibility of the inauguration of the project before ending September.
Rathore while making presentation about the salient features of the project said that civil work is almost complete but there are incompletion on electrical and electronic side.
He said as Nashri area was prone to accidents the tunnel will save many human lives besides protect the vehicles from wear and tear and it has environmental benefits in terms of reducing carbon emission. Besides it will increase commerce and tourism as well as help in employment to local youth, he added.
Dr Singh also stressed the project management to take the care of the local population and youth in particular and remain in touch with MLAs as well as administration in this regard.
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