There is a common feeling among Kashmiris that Jammu has grown at the cost of Kashmir. It is not wholly true. Jammu has grown because of its people and Kashmir is sinking because of its people! An article written sometime back by Sunny Dua in the Real Estate supplement of a Delhi based Newspaper carried the title, “Jammu makes the grade”. The author while highlighting the future possibilities for Real Estate Developers in Jammu had outlined the phenomenal growth of the winter capital of the state in last couple of decades. The Municipal Limits of Jammu, which used to be a city of 32 square kilometres, have recently been extended to 132 square kilometres. The city located on the banks of river Tawi has witnessed massive development. The J & K Housing Board and the Jammu Development Authority have developed over a dozen residential colonies around the walled city. In view of the increasing demand for housing colonies, the JDA is taking the help of Jammu University to conduct a housing demand survey and prepare a vision document for a new Jammu Township. The Authority plans to invite developers from other parts of the country to invest in Jammu. Builders like Parsvnath Developers, Ahluwalias, Omaxe and Bestech India have expressed keenness in developing townships and shopping malls. The Commercial Business District spread over 20 hectares near the Rail Head Complex is Jammu’s busiest spot. The area houses the regional or zonal offices of almost all the major central and state government departments besides major corporate houses like the Reserve Bank of India, the Steel Authority of India, the Central Bureau of Investigation, Indian Oil, HUDCO, the Power Grid Corporation of India, BSNL, J & K Bank, Reliance, HDFC, UTI, Airtel, SIDCO, and a giant shopping complex called the “Bahu Plaza”. However, the most impressive and sustained growth has been in the industrial sector. Almost all the specially developed industrial areas of Bari Brahamana, Digiana, Gangyal, Samba, and Kathua are fully operational and a number of prestigious units with national and international level collaboration are flourishing therein. The development of infrastructure in the form of new bridges on river Tawi, wide arterial roads, numerous flyovers have given a well laid road network in and around Jammu city. The National Highway Authority of India is constructing a new bypass and a number of four-lane Arterial Expressway Corridors which will greatly help the movement of both passenger and goods traffic in the area. According to Mr.Dua, “with over 72 colleges, new hotels, new residential colonies, farm houses, and a proposed golf course, Jammu’s skyline is already witnessing a change!” This most impressive and dramatic growth of Jammu has been due to a number of factors. However, before elucidating these, it needs to be emphasised that the growth has been more or less restricted to two and a half districts. Jammu, Kathua, and half of Udhampur. The troubled districts of Doda, Poonch and Rajouri and half of Udhampur have not kept pace with this accelerated growth for obvious reasons. Regarding the factors responsible for such an accelerated growth, no one can deny that the most important factor is the people of Jammu. The business acumen, the entrepreneurship, and the dedication of the Jammuites are unmatched. They have in real practice kept the welfare of Jammu above everything unlike Kashmiris. First and foremost, they were never uncertain about their future set up right from 1947. In fact they had been agitating right from the start for integrating the state more closely with India. In return, the investors from other parts of the country did not have any hesitation in investing here. They felt safe and comfortable in Jammu. The industries which were set up here did exist in real terms. An important additional factor has been the uncertain situation of last decade and a half. Kashmir valley faced the brunt of the disturbances. Everything trade wise came to a standstill. Jammu emerged as an important alternative for all commercial and business activities. Most of the important offices of both the Government organisations as well as private companies got shifted to Jammu. Apart from the mass exodus of Pandits from Kashmir valley, the Jammu saw migrations of even Muslims from Kashmir valley as well as from districts of Doda, Poonch, Rajouri, and some parts of Udhampur. A large number of Muslims from these areas have also invested in Real Estate in Jammu. Above everything else, the greatest asset of Jammu has been its politicians and bureaucrats. They have always stood by the interests of Jammu. It is they who have ensured that Jammu gets its due share. When it came to the well being of Jammu, they were all united and kept the interest of Jammu above everything else.

Let us now take the story of Kashmir. From the very beginning, it has been on the wrong track. At present everything is in shambles. The basic infrastructure is crumbling. All public utilities such as roads, water supply, drainage, communications, power-supply, and health services are not functioning up to the mark. No doubt there has been appreciable growth in real estate but the same has been totally haphazard and uncontrolled without any adherence to very basic norms of such activities. The housing colonies set up in different areas are low lying without any proper drainage. Most of these get water-logged in rain and recent floods played havoc in some areas. Massive shopping complexes have been constructed in the heart of private residential areas. Encroachments of all types are galore. Most of the industrial estates are with security forces. In fact, in last decade and a half the most important industry of Kashmir has been the security forces with their bunkers and pill boxes. A number of Central Units set up here have either been wound up or have failed to take off as intended. These include the Software Technology Park, Watch Factory, Apple juice concentrate plant and so on. There may be some private units set up by young local entrepreneurs which are doing exceptionally well. It is not that there is lack of entrepreneurship in Kashmir but the malaise is deeper. It is a well known fact that right from 1947, the genuine, honest, and hard working Kashmiri has been allergic to every thing Indian. He has been always plagued by uncertainty. In the heart of hearts, he never reconciled to India’s presence in Kashmir. He has always harboured the feeling that the set up is someday going to change. This distancing of the honest and genuine Kashmiris created a vacuum which has been filled up by all the wrong type of people whose sole aim was their own self. Even before militancy most of the units or establishments in industrial sector were only to make a quick buck. The land was taken, sheds were constructed, but there was no production. A large number of loans were used for constructing palatial houses and purchase of latest automobiles. Corruption has been rampant in every sphere because the very start was corrupt. Hardly any politician or bureaucrat had the interest of Kashmir dear to his heart. In fact all of us have colluded to rob Kashmir of its natural resources. On its part, Delhi has continuously patronised this set up as it suited them on a short term basis. Had they genuinely tried to satisfy the aspirations of the majority, the things would have been different. Corrupt means always corrupt the end. The last decade and a half have acted as the proverbial last nail in the coffin. One does not foresee a positive change for the better in the present circumstances. Everything seems to be sinking deeper and deeper. Dal and Jehlum which can be termed as the heart and the jugular vein of Kashmir are the living examples of this malaise. If we can save these, then we may be redeemed and grow as a nation. If not, then we are doomed!