SRINAGAR: Over a month after the Punjab Government appointed Nodal Officers across districts to facilitate livestock trade, the Kashmir Mutton Dealers Association on Monday expressed skepticism, saying no visible measures have been implemented on the ground so far.
Mehraj-ud-din Ganaie, General Secretary of the Kashmir Mutton Dealers Association said that although the government announced steps on August 01, traders are yet to see any real progress.
“Nothing has been done on the ground yet. No committee has been formed and no practical measures have come into force,” Mehraj said.
Earlier, on August 01, the Punjab Government awarded Rs 92.56 crore contract to Al Baber Marketing Private Limited for organizing cattle fairs for 2025–26 and announced the appointment of Nodal Officers at district levels, particularly in border areas, to oversee livestock movement and resolve disputes.
The officers were tasked with verifying transport documents, ensuring compliance and acting on complaints.
While the association at that time thanked both the Punjab and JK Governments for engaging with traders, Ganaie maintained that implementation remains the real challenge. “Unless measures are enforced on the ground, the problems faced by livestock dealers will continue,” he said—(KNO)
