SRINAGAR: National Conference Additional General Secretary and former minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra today called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar and expressed appreciation for the government’s swift and people-centric response during Operation Sindoor, especially in reaching out to the affected border populations.
Referring to the recent cross-border shelling that has devastated lives in border districts such as Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu, Samba, and Kathua, as well as parts of the Valley including Kupwara, Uri, and Tangdhar, Sadhotra described the situation as grave and deeply distressing. He called for the immediate completion of damage assessment surveys and demanded liberal compensation for families who have lost homes, livestock, and livelihoods.
Sadhotra said the Chief Minister’s personal outreach to victims had instilled confidence among the affected communities and rekindled hopes of timely rehabilitation. He urged the government to expedite the reconstruction of damaged homes and support the revival of local businesses across the border belt.
Lauding what he called the “bold and timely” stand of the Chief Minister on the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), Sadhotra said the move could usher in lasting benefits for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “The suspension of the IWT opens new avenues for harnessing the region’s rich water resources, especially the Chenab River,” he said.
Highlighting the ongoing water crisis in the Jammu region, where residents have been battling severe shortages amid extended summer heatwaves, Sadhotra emphasised the need to use the Chenab waters to augment drinking water supply schemes. He also stressed the strategic importance of projects like the Tulbul Navigation Lock in Sopore for enhancing inland water transport and irrigation infrastructure.
Calling Jammu and Kashmir a potential hydropower hub, Sadhotra said the region’s run-of-the-river resources could be effectively channelled into existing and future hydel projects to strengthen the power sector. He urged the administration to move swiftly under the Chief Minister’s leadership to convert the suspension of the treaty into long-term infrastructure gains in water security, energy production, and regional development.
“The people are overwhelmed with the government’s strong and sensitive response to this critical issue,” he said.
Raising the matter of unemployment, Sadhotra urged the Chief Minister to direct recruitment agencies to expedite ongoing hiring processes. He also pitched for 70 per cent job reservation for local youth in industrial projects and infrastructure works, along with urgent skill training programmes for both skilled and unskilled workers.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, during the meeting, reiterated his government’s commitment to both short-term relief and long-term sustainable development. “We are focusing on inclusive growth and are planning accordingly,” he said, assuring that all efforts were being made to harness Jammu and Kashmir’s resources for the collective welfare of its people.
