Srinagar:
The Jammu and Kashmir government is working to put in place a new and modern economic and financial structure, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said today and asked the people to become active stakeholders in effective implementation of developmental programmes.
Terming public cooperation critical for good governance, she said, "government cannot achieve much unless people become equal partners in effective implementation of developmental programmes."
She said the government is working towards putting in place a new and modern economic and financial structure that would constitute the state's backbone.
The people should become active stakeholders in effective implementation of developmental programmes and also keep a close watch on the quality of works being executed in their respective areas, said the Chief Minister who inaugurated three community centres in different parts of Srinagar.
Talking about development priorities with regard to Srinagar which is the summer capital of the state, she said immediate concerns include flood protection, rapid transport, scientific waste management, urban amenities, housing and environment conservation.
Mehbooba said her late father and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had envisioned restoration of historic richness of Srinagar city and worked tirelessly till his last days towards achieving this objective.
"During his brief stint in government between March 2015 and January 2016, Mufti Sahib extensively toured the Srinagar city around half a dozen times to personally monitor the progress of developmental initiatives in the summer capital," she said.
She said with a view to decongest the downtown areas of the city, the government would offer land as equity to develop new housing colonies and townships in private-public partnership mode, especially for urban poor and those belonging to very low-income groups.
"I feel the pain confronting people and understand hardship facing them on the housing front. We will overcome the acute shortage of affordable housing colonies in downtown city which is bursting at its seam," she said.
Mehbooba said the government would not hesitate in spending money for creating modern infrastructure in cities and towns and provide best possible facilities to the citizens.
"Processes, institutions and resources have been put in place to promote and achieve holistic development of the cities and towns," she said.