Reiterating her party’s commitment to give priority to horticulture sector in Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday said Shopian constituency faces acute problems of irrigation especially in Karewa areas.Addressing various roadside meetings in the Shopian constituency, she said in spite of being source of rich water bodies the successive governments have failed in harnessing the local water resources for irrigation of land in Karewa areas. She said the people living in these areas have to even face immense problems due to lack of drinking waters also.
Mehbooba said horticulture can become a sustainable and remunerative sector only with adequate irrigation facilities. “PDP, if it forms the government, will reorient the entire sector by providing irrigation facilities, pest control, introducing high yielding varieties and establishing post-harvest marketing chain to get the best produce out of our lands,” she added. Mehbooba said the demand for construction of Dubgan canal is genuine and it could irrigate large areas of land.Urging the government to provide relief and compensation to farmers who suffered heavy losses as a result of bad climatic conditions, Mehbooba said the horticulture has unfortunately become a losing proposition for many growers. She said crop insurance must be introduced in the state to safeguard the interests of the farmers.
The PDP Chief, who represents South Kashmir in the Lok Sabha, said the Shopian constituency needs an infrastructure development plan to connect various areas and provide drinking water supply and ration to all the areas.She said the Shadimarg-Gatipora-Dubjan road connecting Mughal road has been in disuse and should be restored immediately. Mehbooba said this and other link roads in the constituency need to be upgraded to provide infrastructure support for development of tourism in the area.Referring to the unemployment problem, she said horticulture and tourism are the best economic activities that would suit the environment of the area. Mehbooba said the PDP would try to develop tourism and horticulture in a big way in the entire district to create more jobs for locals.Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, State Secretary and Chief-Election Coordinator; Abdul Razaq Zawoora, MLA; Advocate Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, candidate for Shopian constituency and others were also present on the occasion. (GNS)