By IANS
Srinagar : The eight new districts of Jammu and Kashmir will get enhanced funds for infrastructure development, including those for road connectivity, from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
This was agreed to at a meeting held here Wednesday evening presided over by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.
"Jammu and Kashmir deserves a special dispensation as its geographical location is an inherent disadvantage," said Y.S.P. Thorat, NABARD chairman, at the meeting.
Thorat said it would be unrealistic to treat the state at par with other states because its difficulties had been compounded by the 18-year violence and the vagaries of weather.
"The working season is practically reduced to just four months in Kashmir," he said. The eight new districts are – Bandipore, Ganderbal, Kulgam and Shopian in the valley, and Ramban, Bhaderwah, Sumba and Reasi in Jammu.
Azad made a strong plea for enhancement of advance funds from 20 percent to 30 for the state which was agreed to by NABARD.
The chief minister also put up a strong case for funds to boost road connectivity in the state citing the serious disparities in the various districts of the state.
"We have districts where the road connectivity is as low as five percent and we also have districts where it is as high as 80 percent. We need NABARD assistance to remove this disparity," Azad said.
The meeting was attended by union Minister of State for Finance Pawan Kumar Bansal, Kashmir Public Health and Irrigation Minister Muhammad Dilawar Mir, Roads and Buildings Minister Gulchain Singh Charak, state Chief Secretary C. Phunsong and state Principal Secretary for Planning and Development S. Kapoor.