Srinagar, Feb 24: Reaffirming his commitment to restoring statehood, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that many critical issues facing the people cannot be effec-tively addressed under the Union Territory (UT) status.
Speaking to reporters, Omar emphasised that while his government is aware of its promises, some issues require full statehood to resolve. “We know what promises we have made to the people and how to fulfill them,” he said, stressing that the government’s manifesto was designed for a five-year term, not just for a few weeks. “We haven’t even presented our first budget yet. You can wait, we will deliver on our promises.”
Omar explained that while some development work can be carried out under the UT framework, many of the region’s concerns require the autonomy that only statehood can provide. “Why am I fighting so much for statehood? Why do I keep emphasising it? Because I know the people are worried about many things, and those problems cannot be solved under a UT,” he said.
The Chief Minister assured the public that his government would work on both fronts. “For the things we can address under UT, we will do so. But for the issues that require statehood, we will push for it,” he added.
On the upcoming budget session, Omar refrained from commenting on the specifics before its official presentation. “The budget belongs to the government, and it is the government’s duty to present it in the assembly first. No one should discuss it before that,” he said. “Whatever alloca-tions or financial decisions are made will be revealed on the day the budget is presented.”
Regarding the water shortages in the valley, Omar acknowledged that the region has faced re-duced rainfall and snowfall, especially during the winter months. “In less than 80% of the winter months, there has been insufficient precipitation,” he said. “In many parts of Jammu and Kash-mir, agriculture is heavily dependent on rainfall, and with less rain or snow, there will be a water shortage in the summer.”
Omar called for immediate water conservation measures, urging citizens to prepare for potential shortages. “We need to start preparing for the summer months now. It’s possible that we will face shortages, not only for agriculture but also for household use,” he added.
The Chief Minister assured that the government would take necessary steps, including promoting rainwater harvesting and maximising the storage of snow. “We will take steps at the government level to ensure proper water management,” he said, noting that efforts would also be made to ad-dress the region’s irrigation needs. “We will coordinate with the agricultural and water depart-ments to tackle these challenges,” he added.
