Omar Abdullah to start Kashmir campaign from Bathgam! 


On May 8th, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is planning to go for second inauguration of a power grid that has been functional since November 2011, as also to address his first public rally of Durbar season in Budgam. This under-developed Central Kashmir district is now known as Bathgam (the village of brick kilns) due to more than 200 unauthorised brick kilns. Nearly 25 of these highly polluting kilns are situated on either side of Budgam-Nasrullahpora-Beerwah Road and operating in brazen violation of over 12 laws of the land. 


Budgam has also the dubious distinction of being the only district headquarters where DCs permitted illegal operation of over 50 JCBs and plying of thousands of earth carrying tippers through the town, leading to unimaginable pollution and road accidents. Immediately after taking over charge of DC on temporary basis, Additional DC, Mohammad Akbar Ganai, has banned entry of tippers through town during day time and people in Budgam and all areas have widely appreciated it.


But bigger questions remain unanswered: Why have all DCs after Baseer Khan's transfer surrendered before the forces who stand exposed for using everything from politics to religion for making Crores of ill-gotten money? Why authorities have permitted devastation of karewas, including state land, by over a dozen JCBs in close vicinity of Budgam town? Why officials have failed to implement Govt decision of shifting old bus stand to the site of new bus stand for cheap appeasement of some individuals? Why there is neither a public park nor a vehicle parking at entire district headquarters?


Why officials in most of the offices at district headquarters have remain posted without transfer for 10 to 30 years and whenever shifted returned back within a year? 


Why no ring road or by-pass has not come up around the town despite huge traffic density at main town? 


Why there has been no follow up action, other than half-hearted acquisition of 3 Kanals of land for approach road, on construction of a hospital at Rishipora, Budgam, since July 2007 where Ghulam Nabi Azad wanted to lay a major hospital under PPP and people had voluntarily donated 78 Kanals of land? 


Why there is no connector between Bemina-Budgam and Hyderpora-Budgam Road, behind Rishipora Railway Station, three years after G M Saroori had started the process of two-lane link and released Rs 40 Lakhs as first installment? 


Who in Omar Abdullah's Govt is the road block in all these executions? CM needs to tweet.