'PM Modi's visit to Jammu and Kashmir will give fresh impetus to implementation of CMP'

Srinagar: Ahead of Narendra Modi's visit to Jammu and Kashmir, state's Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu on Saturday said people of the state were expecting the Prime Minister to take tangible measures to address the political and economic challenges confronting the state.

Drabu also said the upcoming visit of the Prime Minister would give a fresh impetus to implementation of PDP-BJP Common Minimum Programme (CMP) -- 'Agenda of Alliance' - in the state.

"The upcoming visit of the Prime Minister to Jammu and Kashmir will give a fresh impetus to implementation of PDP-BJP 'Agenda of Alliance' in the state," Drabu said interacting with people during his visit to Pampore, Pulwama and Rajpora constituencies of south Kashmir.

The minister said people of the state were expecting the Prime Minister to make tangible confidence building measures aimed at addressing the political and economic challenges confronting Jammu and Kashmir.

"The priority of the state government right now is to address the alienation especially among the youth and kick-start a developmental process to not only rebuild the flood-hit public and private infrastructure, but also ensure long-term economic prosperity of the people in all the regions and sub-regions of the state," he said.

He said while resources were not a problem, the only thing that needed immediate attention was to build the capacity for spending the available funds so that durable assets were created in the key sectors.

"Unfortunately, due to the slip-shod functioning of the previous regime, not only have thousands of crores gone down the drain, but the present government inherited a liability of around Rs 9,000 crore from the previous regime with nothing substantial having been done on the ground," he said.

Drabu said the government has identified power, agriculture, tourism, horticulture, handicrafts as thrust areas which have not only the potential to boost the state economy but create huge employment avenues for the local youth.

He said there would be adequate flow of funds for these sectors to create a vibrant economy.