Shiv Kumar Padha
The people of Jammu and Kashmir state in general and Jammu region in particular held their breath till the outcome of the 2014 Legislative assembly election results because hopes and aspirations of the region were linked with the number of BJP MLA selected from Jammu region under leadership of Prime Minister Narender Modi. Doubtlessly the tenures of NDA-1 and NDA-2 under PM Modi ushered in an era of development in the country and brought a revolution in the economic, defense, industrial, diplomatic and Home front. The borders are well managed, the production in the industrial sector has been doubled than before under the Make in India, Be vocal for Local, and other social and poverty elimination Programs etc.
The joy of the people from Jammu region knew no bounds after the victory of unprecedented number of 25 BJP MLAs for J&K Legislative Assembly and above all becoming an equal partner in the first BJP and PDP lead Coalition government in the state. The state experienced a flood of funds for the elevation of the standard of living of the people , eradication of poverty and guarantee of youth employment Connectivity, health sector, developmental schemes, prestigious national level institutes like IIM, IIT, GMCs, Ayurvedic Colleges, engineering colleges and other infinite number of schemes. In order to ensure equitable and inclusive development of all the rural and urban areas of state PM Modi gave a slogan Sab Ka Saath Sab Ka Vikas Sab Ka Vishvas but as usual the team of legislators and ministers of the state reversed it suiting to their ease and comfort and gave emphasis on the development of only those constituencies which were represented by the powerful, influential MLAS and ministers. They made the development as the prerogative of the selected number of MLAs. The development of constituencies represented either by the weak or non-local MLAs were among the greatest sufferers as their developmental programs were either stalled or were hijacked by the other constituencies. It becomes necessary to mention here that Basohli has been suffering from the discriminatory and step motherly treatment being meted out to the whole constituency by the team of MLAs and council of ministers from Jammu region since the formation of coalition government in 2015. It will not be wrong if I call 2014 to 2021 a darkest period for the whole Basohli constituency because the people were not duped by others but by their own MLAs. Basohli constituency has got great set back politically and in the field of development.
Hardly there is any constituency in Jammu and Kashmir which has been represented for 45 years continuously by the persons from other tehsils of the district. These MLAs successfully complemented their tenures by manipulative and divide and rule policy. The so-called representatives, instead of taking interest in developing the constituency, considered it as their colony and launching pad to reach up to the echelons of power. After the dissolution of the coalition government in the state and the day MLA Basohli framed his own regional party Dogra Swabhiman Manch ceased to function even as an ex MLA Basohli. After the dissolution of the LA of the state in 1918, every ex MLA in the state, except that from Basohli, took interest in the development of their constituencies with more zeal and enthusiasm than before but as the ill luck would have it, Basohli constituency lagged behind and whole the developmental work came to a sudden halt.
The credit for the little development which is visible till date, except one ADC post and Forest Division, goes to the pre-2015 governments of the state otherwise there is nothing which goes to the credit of MLA or minister of coalition government. There is a long list of developmental projects and schemes sanctioned for Basohli, which have either been stalled, confined to the files or have been delayed due to the political vengeance and lack of decision making on the part of the administration. It is worthwhile to discuss the projects which have not seen the light of the day till date.
- Dreams of Essel word, Disney land are not visible on ground anywhere.
- Sports stadium, sanctioned seven years back has fallen prey to the inter departmental tug of war whereas international stadium Hiranagar got completed in a record time. It indicates that where there is will there is way.
- The water sports stadium and institute for Srinagar and Basohli were sanctioned on the same day and at the same time but it is surprising that Srinagar Water Sports Stadium and complex stands inaugurated and functional since long whereas fate of the Basohli water sports depends on the goodwill of the bureaucracy and the political will of the politicians.
- The Kendriya Vidyalay at Lakhanpur which functioned as KV Basohli for more than two decades has not been restored to its legitimate claimants while dozens of such KVs have been opened in the nook and corner of the Doda, Kathua and Udhampur parliamentary constituency.
- The mega solar energy project for Basohli stands sanctioned for the last four years, for which 3,900 Kanals of government land has been identified and specialist team from Gujarat has cleared project, but there is no political authority to follow the case ultimately the project has been confined to the dust bin.
- One crore worth Solid waste management project, for which tenders have been called since long is eating the dust.
- There is a network of serpentine black top roads almost in all the constituencies whereas there are only tractor roads all around and no rural road has been asphalted.
- The third Phase of 9 megawatt PDC project are lying non-functional for last 8 years.
- The sanctioned B Sc Nursing College, for which the building stands completed has been hijacked by neighboring MLAs.
- The hospital is suffering from the shortage of Doctors and other allied facilities like blood transfusion, blood bank while a pathologist is without work in the hospital when a monthly salary of Rs 1.5 lakh is being paid to the doctor for no work.
- A herbal garden sanctioned 15 years back for Basohli is still in papers while Himalyan Herbal forest/ farms worth 36 crores of rupees in Doda is nearing completion shortly
- There is no fire extinguishing facility en-route Udhampur, Kathua to Basohli and Chhater Gala Bani. Many hamlets, crops and livestock of nomads die due to accidental fire every year.
- The so-called model Hr. Sec. School Basohli has acute shortage of teaching and technical staff
- 60 year old GHS Basohli has always been ignored for its up gradation as Girls Hr. Sec. School while many junior GHSs have been upgraded.
- There is non-ending list of developmental projects for Basohli which have been either buried in the files or have fallen prey to political vengeance. We people of Basohli constituency can say with confidence that projects sanctioned for Basohli are being delayed deliberately since 2014.