NC criticises shelving of Jammu artificial lake project

Opposition National Conference today strongly reacted over the reports of shelving the artificial lake project in Jammu, saying governments should not function at the whims and fantasies of individuals.
NC Provincial President Devender Singh Rana, in a statement, said taking up of the lake project was a conscious decision of the Omar Abdullah government which reflected deep yearning of the people who wanted to have a hangout place within the city precincts.
"Shelving of this project is a huge snub to the people of Jammu who crave for development," he said, adding that "by change of government, the technicalities of developmental projects does not change".

Taking exception to the statement of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, he wondered how the feasibility of the project can be questioned now when executing agencies remain the same.
He said that expertise of engineers, who conceived and implemented the lake project, cannot be undermined just casually.
"Over Rs 59 crore have already been spent on this project and that cannot be allowed to spill down the drain," he said.

Hitting out at BJP for "crying hoarse" over the so-called discrimination with the region, he said "by abandoning the project, the coalition government has proven that it cares two hoots for the public sentiment".

"They are devoid of political wisdom and lack the capacity of taking along people of all the three regions," said Rana.
He said that National Conference would not allow dictatorial policies to succeed which undermine the urges and aspirations of the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.