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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has mentioned that Indian government had committed "unprecedented resources" for the "comprehensive reconstruction" of Jammu and Kashmir but he also expressed his regrets that the people have been able to enjoy them very “slowly”.
"Unprecedented resources have been committed to the state for its comprehensive reconstruction. But I recognise that the benefits are trickling down slowly. This state of affairs should change," said Manmohan Singh, during his three-day itinerary to Kashmir.
"In the last five years, the government of India has taken a number of steps to bring development to Jammu and Kashmir. We have tried to revive the traditional connectivity between the people of the region," he said.
Some of the major initiatives which have been adopted by government include;
Reviving the trade and peoples' movement across the Line of Control on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road and on the Poonch-Rawalakot road
Allocation of additional fund of Rs.385 crore to build the heritage Mughal Road that will connect south Kashmir Shopian with mountainous Poonch and Rajouri districts in Jammu
Additional Rs. 356 crore for conversation of the picturesque Dal Lake in Srinagar
"We have to speed up the pace of development in the state. We want to strengthen the hands of the state government so that they can implement an ambitious development agenda," he said.
The prime minister also urged that the elections to local bodies "be held quickly".
"This," he said, "will increase the people's participation in the processes of development."
