PDP neglected Srinagar when in power: Omar

Hitting out at People's Democratic Party (PDP), Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the opposition party had "totally neglected" Srinagar when it was in power.
"Some people are shedding crocodile tears for Srinagar and there is no dearth of such people. As (2014 Assembly) elections come nearer, you will see such leaders who will shed crocodile tears for Srinagar saying we are the well wishers of Srinagar, want to increase the importance of the city and want to bring the city not only on the map of the country but the world.
"I have only one question for those people. If you really have love for Srinagar, then answer me that when you were in power, why had you started a scheme of moving the government offices from Srinagar to Parihaspora?," Omar said while addressing a function after laying foundation of a flyover here.

The chief minister said PDP did not do justice to the city when the party had an opportunity while it was in power from 2002 to 2008 in coalition with Congress.
"You (PDP) did not approve any developmental schemes for Srinagar, did not macadamize any road in the city, but that was okay. However, how could we accept relocating the civil secretariat, assembly and high court from Srinagar, which is a capital city of the state, to Parihaspora.
"When you had the opportunity to do justice with the city, you did nothing and the result of which was that National Conference bagged all eight seats from the city in the assembly elections in 2008. And since then, the coalition government is committed to make Srinagar a model city and an economic hub," he said.

Omar listed the development projects launched by his government in Srinagar during last four and a half years to give fillip to the development and economic activities.

Omar said he had approved the Srinagar flyover some two years ago, but did not lay its foundation till today for the fact that he wanted to rehabilitate the shopkeepers and others getting affected by the project.
"I have given clear cut instructions to the Economic Reconstruction Agency and Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation to first rehabilitate the shopkeepers and then move forward on the construction of the flyover project," he said.

The Rs 351 crore flyover will connect Jehangir Chowk with Rambagh here and is expected to be completed in three years.
Omar earlier laid foundation of Rs 31 crore parking lot in the commercial hub of Lal Chowk here.