Jammu,Thanking to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for interim budget for Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha while sharing details on Sunday said that the swimming pools at Maulana Azad Stadium, Jammu and Gindun Park Rajbagh, Srinagar will be completed soon as Rs 141.80 cr has been allocated under Capital expenditure for 2024-25 for Sports and Youth Initiatives.
Sinha addressing a press conference here stated that Rs 75 lakh youth engagements in various sports events to be held at the Panchayat, Block, District, UT and National level during 2024-25.
He said that 20 national sports events to be organized in 2024-25, adding, “200 playfields and 100 sports courts to be constructed while the swimming pools to be completed at Maulana Azad Stadium, Jammu and Gindun Park Rajbagh, Srinagar.”
Notably, an all-weather swimming pool was one of the major demands of the swimmers, especially the trainees. The total expenditure to be spent in the upgradation of the swimming pool into an all-weather facility was Rs 3.50 crores.
Sinha however, also said that the GDP of Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed growth from Rs 1.6 lakh crore in 2018-19 to Rs 2.64 lakh crore in 2021-22.
“The reforms done in the last four to five years have resulted in efficient growth. J&K is on the path of good governance, development and peace,” he said.
About the recent vote on the account budget presented in the Parliament for J&K recently, the LG said that the economic condition of the UT is much better than what it was earlier.
“J&K administration’s efforts have been to increase capital expenditure and decrease revenue expenditure,” he said.
The LG said that revenue expenditure of J&K is Rs 80,000 Crore as a vast portion goes into salaries of employees while capital expenditure has recorded a quantum jump of Rs 38000 Crore from Rs 11000 Crore.
He stated that the Budget 2024-25 reflects the felt needs and aspirations of the people of J&K and commitment of the UT Administration for peace, progress and prosperity.
“The immediate goal is to accelerate the pace of economic development in the UT of J&K and make it multi-dimensional,” said Sinha adding that the budget 2024-25 is primarily a “Growth-Oriented” budget and in line with the endeavours of the UT Government to double its economy in the next few years.
The Lieutenant Governor said that the focus areas in 2024-25 shall be good governance, strengthening grass-root democracy, promoting holistic and sustainable agriculture, promoting Jammu and Kashmir as an investment destination, employment generation, developing new tourism destinations, accelerated development and inclusive growth, women empowerment and social inclusion.
