STATE TIMES NEWS
- Raises issue of Aithem, swinging pool, development of JDA Ground Bhagwati Nagar as Sports stadium, bifurcation of ration cards, opening of new Ration Depots, inclusion of private players in restoration of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex.
JAMMU: Senior BJP leader and MLA East Constituency, Yudhvir Sethi strongly advocated for the development of rural areas and sports infrastructure in his constituency.
Speaking during the Budget discussion in the Assembly, the MLA highlighted the lack of internet connectivity in rural and far-flung areas, stressing the urgency of implementing the Bharat Net Scheme, a Rs 2600 crore initiative launched in 2011 and introduced in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019. Under this scheme, 3.5 lakh panchayats across the country are being connected. He urged the government to expedite the process in rural Jammu so that Panchayat representatives can directly highlight the issues and development needs of their respective areas.
Expressing concern over the hardships faced by residents of Aithem, Sandhi, Khanna Shargal and several remote and rural areas falling in East constituency, Yudhvir Sethi pointed out the lack of basic amenities such as roads, electricity, and drinking water. He urged the government to provide bus services in these areas, ensuring that women benefit from the free bus service introduced by the J&K Govt and that school-going children can avail free transportation in government buses.
Yudhvir Sethi reiterated his long-standing demand for the establishment of a sports stadium at Bajalata, which was also announced made by former CM Farooq Abdullah, for which present CM Omar Abdullah has directed the Revenue Department to prepare documents.
Highlighting the importance of sports infrastructure, Sethi demanded development of JDA Ground Bhagwati Nagar as a sports stadium, which would provide better sports facilities to the youth.
To further boost tourism and adventure sports, he urged the government to restart paragliding activities at Aithem as the same was stopped for the last more than one year, which would attract adventure enthusiasts and create employment opportunities in the region.
He also demanded that the swimming pool in MA Stadium should be made functional before the upcoming summer, ensuring that athletes and enthusiasts benefit from the facility. He also sought greater support for traditional sports like Dangal, calling for dedicated facilities to promote the indigenous wrestling tradition.
The senior BJP leader also emphasized the need to establish new ration depots and called for the bifurcation of ration cards to ensure that benefits reach the deserving families efficiently.
Sethi also raised serious concern over the slow pace of ongoing works in the restoration of the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex. He said that nearly Rs 200 crore has been earmarked for restoration works. He mentioned that the restoration work is currently being carried out by the ASI, but the ASI has stated that it will not be able to undertake work worth more than Rs 2 crore annually. He said that at this pace, the project will never see the light of day. He demanded the inclusion of private players so that the project can be completed at the earliest.
He also stated that the economy of Jammu and Kashmir is dependent on tourism. He demanded the establishment of Night Bazaars in Jammu city at locations such as Residency Road
Urging the government to take swift action on these pressing issues, Yudhvir Sethi emphasized that holistic development in East Constituency is crucial for enhancing the quality of life for its residents and fostering growth in rural areas.