Pulled J&K out of ‘debt state’ identity in past 5 years: Lieutenant Governor

Srinagar, Aug 12: Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Monday said that with the active support of Centre, the administration has been able to pull the UT out of “debt legacy” and to put it on the path of “economically sustainable region.”

Addressing a press conference at International Convention Centre (ICC) in Srinagar, LG Sinha said that J&K was known as a “debt State” but since past five years, J&K administration has worked towards making the J&K as a “self-reliant UT.”

“If someone asks me how I see past five years, I would say these years were full of peace and prosperity and high hopes. Lok Sabha polls witnessed a record participation by people and there was 58 per cent voting is a real big achievement,” he said as per news agency—Kashmir News Corner (KNC).

He said J&K budget passed in the parliament is Rs 1.18390 Crore which is Rs 30889 Crore more than the last year. “We have revamped almost all sectors in J&K be that power, agriculture, and infrastructure there is a huge change,” the LG said.

He said that in J&K in the past three years, power tariff has not been hiked and the people of J&K continue to get electricity at cheaper rates than Punjab, Himachal and Haryana. “We have been able to overcome the highest ever ATC losses in J&K, which were highest in the country,” the LG said.

“We have ensured 25 per cent decreased in transmission and distribution losses in J&K.”

The LG said that J&K went through deadly deluge in 2014 and building infrastructure was a challenge. “Another challenge was Covid-19,” he said. The LG refused to take questions related to security situation in J&K.

The LG said that in the past five years, J&K Bank, the premier financial institution has been pulled out of the huge debts and today it’s a profitable institution of the UT.