KL Report
NEW DELHI
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Wednesday had a meeting with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari and discussed matters relating to the road communication sector in Jammu and Kashmir. Omar also met Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan and discussed issues pertaining to the allotment of essential commodities including food grains by the Centre to the State.
According to a government statement underlining the importance of well built roads in a State like Jammu and Kashmir, presenting a mosaic of geographical diversity, hilly and inaccessible terrains, remoteness of areas and weather vagaries, Omar Abdullah highlighted the importance of this sector for overall development and economic welfare of the State.
The Chief Minister while emphasizing the need for early completion of 4-lane Highway Project also laid stress on upgradation and improvement of existing Jammu-Srinagar National Highway as also the need of transferring maintenance of Highway NH-1B Batote-Kishtwar road, Kargil-Zanaskar road and Domail-Katra road to J&K PWD, the matter already taken up by the State Government with the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
The Chief Minister raised the issue of construction of tunnels on various routes including a tunnel at Peer Ki Gali on Mughal Road, a tunnel to connect Singhpora in Kishtwar to Vailoo in Islamabad, a tunnel between Lolab and Bandipora and a tunnel connecting Sudh-Mahadev with Marmath in Doda district. The proposals for the construction of these tunnels have already been preferred to the Union Government.
The Chief Minister discussed the issue of declaration of Mughal Road as alternate Highway. A proposal from the State Government in this regard is already with the Union Government.
Omar Abdullah also sought Central assistance for construction of five (5) Flyovers by NHAI at Shalteng, Sanantnagar, Kalibari, Greater Kailash and Bemina. He also discussed the allotment of funds to the State under Central Road Fund Scheme and sought its rationalization. He raised the issue of construction of two Ring Roads under NHDP in Jammu and Srinagar cities and urged for early taking up of these projects by NHAI.
Later Omar Abdullah also met Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan and discussed issues pertaining to the allotment of essential commodities including food grains by the Centre to the State.
Omar Abdullah highlighted the necessity of increasing the quota of food grains to the State to meet the demand of people particularly poor sections of the society and those living below the poverty line. He said that for a State like Jammu and Kashmir being deficit in the production of food grains and confronted with severe winters along with remoteness and inaccessibility of areas, there is highest need of buffer stocking of food grains, fuel, petroleum, k-oil and other essential items particularly in the areas which remain cut off from the towns and cities during the winter months.
A government statement said that it was stated in the meeting that Jammu and Kashmir is receiving 63067 tonnes of food grains per month as per projected population of the year 2000 for 18.02 lakh families whereas the State CAPD Department is distributing ration to 19.72 lakh families which results in a monthly shortfall of 5953 tonnes of food grains which has further widened due to increase in population from 101.44 lakh in 2001 to 125.49 lakh in 2011.
The Chief Minister said that under these circumstances the supply of essential commodities from the Centre should be adequate and regular so that there is no scarcity of essentials anywhere in the State.
The Chief Minister also discussed the issue of waiving of taxes imposed by SFC and sought separate quota of food grains for Kashmiri Migrants, Gujjars and Bakerwals as also for the welfare institutions.
