Former minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla has slammed BJP Govt that even after almost more than six and half years could not start much awaited ‘Peerkho-Mahamaya’ Cable Car Project in totality to give boost to Jammu tourism. While interacting with people at Satwari, Bhalla said that J&K BJP must answer delay in start of this mega project with questions posed by the people of Jammu. He said none of the BJP leaders took up the matter with the concerned agencies and the higher authorities for early completion of the project. “COVID- 19 break out was witnessed in early 2020 but this project was being delayed for the past six years. After long wait now authorities are able to operate only from small portion of project. He added that technical snags are to be corrected for smooth flow of the system. “Instead of taking Jammu to the forefront by all means, the Jammu BJP has pushed the Jammu people of this region into the dark era,” Bhalla said, adding that privatisation of electricity with installation of smart meters, metering of water connections, privatisation of hospitals are reportedly among some of the proposals on cards to be introduced by the BJP in coming days. He asked BJP what about Artificial Lake Project, area along the Tawi River Front which was supposed to be developed on the lines of Sabarmati River Front in Gujarat. The project worth Rs 75 crore was floated by Congress when a cable car was planned to be operated from Bahu Fort to Mubarak Mandi Complex. Bhalla further said that people in large numbers are approaching revenue offices, besides the private persons for getting Domicile certificates and Govt should have accepted the demand for treating PRCs as domiciles certificates but it is most unfortunate that Govt is adopting a tough posture and BJP is unsympathetic to the plight of people facing avoidable hardships for again getting proof of residence in the shape of domicile, who already hold a validly issued PRC (Permanent Resident Certificate). Bhalla further said that general public is badly suffering as the rates of the building material like sand, gravel and stones have increased more than double. The rates of the building material which was hardly Rs 1000 per trolley in case of sand last year has now gone up to Rs 2500-2700, gravel from Rs 1500 per trolley to Rs 2800-3000 and stones from Rs 1000 to Rs 2400 per vehicle. The general public has been suffering badly as they have either abandoned their construction works or waiting for the outcome of suitable instructions from the Government in this regard.
