Srinagar, Sept 09: Scores of delegations and individuals called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at Raabita office here on Tuesday to apprise the Chief Minister of various issues of public importance.
A delegation of folk artists and renowned singers of Kashmir, including Ustaad Abdul Rashid Hafiz, Waheed Jeelani, Gulzar Ganie and Muneer Mir, raised the concerns of the local artists and singers with the Chief Minister. They sought the government’s intervention to resolve various challenges faced by the community over the last several years.
Similarly, other public delegations also met the Chief Minister and apprised him of various developmental issues and concerns of their respective areas.
Apart from these delegations, scores of individuals called on the CM and apprised him of various personal and public concerns.
The Chief Minister gave a patient hearing to all delegations and individuals, and assured them that the issues raised would be taken care of through the concerned departments.
Earlier, the Chief Minister also held a brief interaction with MLA Kulgam, Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami and discussed developmental activities in Kulgam constituency.
Similarly, a delegation of Jammu and Kashmir Fruits & Vegetable Processing & Integrated Cold Chain Association (JKPICCA) called on CM Omar Abdullah here and raised the issue of closure of National Highway in view of the peak fruit season in the valley.
The delegation, while interacting with the Chief Minister, sought immediate intervention of the government to ensure the uninterrupted movement of fruit and vegetable-laden trucks from Kashmir to outside Mandis. They sought streamlined passage of fruit and vegetable-laden trucks, no arbitrary halts, alternate routes, a dedicated transport corridor, priority movement status for fruit-laden trucks, as well as immediate start of Railway Cargo Service to ensure faster and direct transportation of the valley’s fruit produce to national markets.
The Chief Minister assured the association members that the government is fully aware of the gravity of the situation and NH-44 restoration is being monitored on an hourly basis. He said that all possible measures are being explored to restore highway connectivity at the earliest, while long-term solutions are also being explored to prevent such issues in future peak seasons.
The Chief Minister further assured the delegation that the introduction of Railway Cargo Service for fruit produce of Kashmir has already been raised with the Union Ministry of Railways, and additional rakes have been requested from them for smooth transportation of fruit produce.
