J&K Mining Can Add Rs 200 Billion Revenue: LG Sinha
Addressing the Strategic Management Forum Conference organised by IIM Jammu in collaboration with the Strategic Management Forum and NITI Aayog, Sinha said the Union Territory is rich in minerals such as limestone, sapphire and lithium. With targeted reforms, the mining sector could contribute between Rs 150 billion and Rs 200 billion annually over the next five to seven years, he said.
Sinha said India’s rapid economic expansion under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been anchored in inclusive and equitable development, with policies focused on job creation, support for small businesses, higher public investment and financial empowerment. He added that macroeconomic stability, increased spending on education and healthcare, digital adoption, transparency and faster project execution are critical to achieving all-round development.
The Lieutenant Governor also called for maximising Jammu and Kashmir’s hydropower potential and suggested updating the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme to align it with evolving economic needs. On the sidelines of the event, he inaugurated the Basohli Painting Exhibition and felicitated artists, praising the efforts of IIM Jammu and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in preserving the traditional art form.
On security, Sinha said terrorism has been significantly curtailed across large parts of the country and that local recruitment in Jammu and Kashmir has sharply declined. He said terrorists hiding in rugged terrain and forests would be eliminated, asserting that there is no place for terrorism in the Union Territory’s development journey. While accusing Pakistan of continuing infiltration attempts, he emphasised that society and administrative institutions, alongside security forces, must work together to ensure lasting peace and stability.