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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Thursday visited Sopore town that had been in the news recently for violence and attacks on the mobile service providers and telecom towers.
The authorities had blamed a breakaway group of the Hizbul Mujaheedin outfit for the attacks on civilians and the telecom facilities in the town.
Though the security measures in the town have been beefed up yet, the mobile service providers are yet to resume their business. The services have, however, been restored.
The chief minister visited the town along with the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh promised to restore the towns lost glory of being known as ‘Chotta (little) London’.
Sayeed inspected Sopore’s terminal fruit mandi, sub-district hospital and Bypass Bridge, which is nearing completion after missing several deadlines. He also interacted with several prominent citizens and invited suggestions for improving basic facilities in the town.
Describing horticulture as the bedrock of its export-oriented industry which sustained the valley's economy when it fell on hard times, the chief minister announced upgradation of Sopore fruit market on modern lines so that it matches the benchmark standards.
He also sanctioned Rs 4 crore for improvement of roads within the fruit mandi premises and its periphery to facilitate movement of fruit-laden trucks in and out of the mandi.
During his visit to the sub-district hospital, the chief minister asked the health department to upgrade it as a model hospital.
Placing high priority on de-congesting the main Sopore town from heavy vehicular traffic, Mufti inspected the Sopore bypass bridge, being constructed by Border Roads Organisation, and issued directions for making it operational in the first week of August.
During his interaction with prominent citizens of the apple rich town, the chief minister announced construction of an additional filtration plant to improve the quality of drinking water. Over the years, the people of Sopore town have suffered due to poor quality of potable water, an official statement said.
Meanwhile, the Hizbul Mujaheedin has expelled a top commander operating in Sopore area. The outfit identified him as Abdul Qayoom Najar.
Photograph: Umar Ganie/Rediff.com