Tone up machinery for effective implementation of projects: PM

He also announced slew of measures being taken by the Centre to help the state to tide over power crisis,unemployment and speed up development in the state.

“The power sector is critical for the development of the state,” he said adding the Union Power Ministry will set up a special monitoring group for the power sector in the state,involving the Union Ministry of Finance,the Planning Commission and the state government.

“I have assured the state government that the Government of India would allocate up to 500 MW of power in the winter months to Jammu and Kashmir depending on the load pattern and the emergent requirements of the state,” Singh said.

Singh said the Ministry of new and renewable energy has prepared a renewable energy plan for Ladakh region to minimize the use of kerosene,diesel and firewood. The Prime Minister said he spoke yesterday about the enormous possibilities of making the state into one of the world’s top tourist destinations and said “we have decided to commit additional funds of more than Rs 359 crore for the rehabilitation of the world famous Dal and Nagin lakes”.

As many as 200 youths will be trained and deployed as tourist escorts for the Vaishno Devi and Amarnath Yatras,he said. Singh also recalled his appeal to the youth of the state to lend their hand in the development of the state and said: “We have decided that the Union ministry of youth affairs will enrol and deploy around 8,000 young persons as volunteers on an honorarium basis. They can engage productively in public service,such as in the conservation of Dal Lake.”

The Prime Minister said the Ministry of tourism will train up to 300 young persons under the scheme ‘Hunar Se Rozgar Tak’ in the state. The Ministry of Labour will also arrange to host up to 8,000 youth from the state each year in various ITIs to take advantage of the modular skill development programmes in sectors with high employment potential,he said. Singh said the Centre will continue to give priority to developing the physical infrastructure of the state.

“We will provide additional funds to ensure the timely completion of the Mughal Road,an alternate highway between Shopian district of south Kashmir with Poonch in Jammu region,at a revised cost of about Rs 640 crores.

“We have earmarked Rs 125 crores to upgrade urban infrastructure in important towns in the valley like Baramulla,Anantnag,Kupwara,Ganderbal and Sopore during the current year,” the Prime Minister said.

About revival of industrial sector in the state,he said “industrial revival is critical for the revival of the economy and to increase employment opportunities for our youth.

“Dastakari,handicrafts and textiles are at the core of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy. The Government of India will favourably consider the request of the state government to provide financial assistance for replacement of 40,000 carpet looms in the state over a period of five years,” he said.

The PM termed as “very good” the discussions he had with the Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues yesterday.

“We took stock of the development efforts in various sectors and discussed ways and means of expediting the implementation of various Central projects,” he said.

He said he also had wide-ranging discussions with all major political parties in the state and various sections of the civil society. About his appeal for dialogue,he said he hoped that it will be reciprocated in the spirit in which it was made.

“We have to carry all stakeholders with us to achieve a permanent and peaceful reconciliation in Jammu and Kashmir so that we can concentrate on an ambitious development agenda that will lead to a full economic revival and reconstruction,”

Singh said.

The Prime Minister said J-K is blessed with rich endowments of resources,natural beauty and a young population that yearns for a better and more secure future.

“Whether it is in the area of infrastructure,employment or its traditional economy,the state must not only keep pace with the rest of the country but should be ahead of it. Over the past few years,the Government of India has committed unprecedented sources for the development of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.