SRINAGAR, Feb 12: As part of ongoing pre-budget discussions, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today engaged in a series of meetings with public representatives from various districts of Kashmir at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar.
The Chief Minister led these pre-budget consultations with the chairpersons of District Development Councils (DDCs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from the Srinagar, Ganderbal, and Bandipora districts, who participated both physically and virtually.
During the discussions, MLAs from Srinagar advocated for increased funding for priority development projects and essential public welfare initiatives within their constituencies, underscoring the importance of the capital city. MLAs Ali Muhammad Sagar, Mubarak Gul, Shamim Firdous, Tanvir Sadiq, Ahsan Pardesi, and Salman Ali Sagar shared their proposals in the meeting.
The consultation addressed a variety of issues, including alleviating traffic congestion through alternative routes, establishing parking facilities in downtown Srinagar, decreasing vehicular pressure on roads, constructing flyovers, and community halls. Additionally, they discussed the restoration of water bodies, enhancing sports infrastructure, vertical housing projects, dredging of Dal lake interiors, and developing a more efficient drainage system.
The MLAs expressed the need for improved drinking water quality, upgraded sewage treatment facilities, enhanced electricity supply, and a robust solid waste management system. They further emphasized the importance of scientifically managing waste at the Achan landfill site, identifying new dumping locations, introducing water ambulances in Dal Lake, dredging its canals, increasing aid for fire victims, widening internal roads and boulevard road, and eliminating existing bottlenecks. A call for creating job opportunities for the youth of Srinagar was also highlighted, along with the need for budget provisions for this initiative.
The meeting with elected representatives from Bandipora and Ganderbal districts included the chairman of DDC Bandipora, MLAs from Gurez, Sumbal, and Bandipora constituencies, as well as the Kangan constituency MLA from Ganderbal district. Notably, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah represents the Ganderbal constituency in the J&K Assembly and was briefed on budget proposals concerning Ganderbal district.
During the meeting, the MLAs presented various development proposals and infrastructure plans for their areas, including the establishment of fire service stations, pursuing National Highway status for the Bandipora-Gurez road, providing allowances for officials in remote regions, ensuring local employment in HEP projects, supplying critical medical equipment to health facilities in Bandipora, improving basic services in tribal regions, reviving minor irrigation khuls, and promoting fish farming and income-generating prospects in tourism-oriented locations.
They stressed the need for advancements in health and education, along with infrastructure enhancements in roads, water access, power distribution, and irrigation.
The conversations also focused on promoting tourism and improving youth services and sports facilities. The MLAs highlighted the necessity of securing job opportunities for local youth in various projects and addressed significant public requests pertaining to their constituencies.
Deputy Commissioners from each district delivered detailed presentations outlining district profiles, demographics, and existing infrastructure across key sectors, including health, education, roads, drainage, public health engineering (PHE), and power.
The presentations provided insights into the District Capex, Centrally Sponsored Schemes, and ongoing projects within the current plan.
All MLAs expressed their appreciation to the Chief Minister for including them in the pre-budget discussions and recognized the government’s inclusive strategy.
The meeting was also attended by Chief Minister’s Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary Finance Santosh D Vaidya, Director General Budget M.S. Malik, Director General Expenditure Sajad Hussain, and the Deputy Commissioners from Srinagar, Ganderbal, and Bandipora, with participants joining either in person or virtually via video conference.
