MENDHAR, MAY 2: Javed Rana, senior Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) leader and President of the party for Pir Panjal Zone has pooh-poohed the Union Territory Administration alleging that the so-called new industrial policy claimed to be unique in many ways has turned out to be an utter failure on the ground.
In a statement issued to media here today, the senior National Conference leader raised serious concern over the flawed new industrial policy of Jammu and Kashmir asserting that it has totally failed especially due to the fact that the banks are not honouring the commitments made in the policy. He said that the banks are not fulfilling the obligations on their part under the new policy forwarding lame excuses. He said that while this is the sorry state of affairs regarding the policy across the Union Territory, the Pir Panjal range continues to be the worst victim of the banks’ apathy and the bank officials’ dereliction of duty. He claimed not a single loan stands sanctioned for any industrial unit for the Pir Panjal range under the new industrial policy.
Javed Rana said that in view of the banks not responding to be proactive partners in implementing the new industrial policy, the industries in the Pir Panjal range are on ventilators rather in a dying mode. He said that it is an open secret that more than 60 per cent Industrial units stand already closed in Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Bari Brahmana, and Pulwama industrial areas which falsifies the tall claims made by the Union Territory Administration of bringing the industrial revolution in J&K and boosting the economy, besides creating multiple employment avenues for the unemployed youth.
Asserting that the Administration can’t disown its liability for the gross failure of the new industrial policy, Rana said that it is ironic that despite raising this serious issue with the concerned authorities in governance of Pir Panjal range, the Govt is not responding to the locals’ fervent appeals time and again. He said what could be more sarcastic than the fact that Govt is not listening to the woes of local industrialists, at the same time it is inviting the people from outside Jammu and Kashmir to avail subsidies on industrial projects. However, the fact remains that not a single big Industry has been established in J&K after the abrogation of Art 370, he lamented.
Meanwhile, Javed Rana while asserting that National Conference is the only panacea to end the woes of the people of J&K appealed to the people to support National Conference in the forthcoming elections be it the Panchayat, ULB, or Assembly elections.