Srinagar, May 24: National Conference (NC) Additional General Secretary and former minister, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra on Saturday called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here and hailed the Jammu and Kashmir government’s response in handling the situation during Operation Sindoor in terms of reaching out to the people in general and the border dwellers in particular.
Sadhotra, according to a statement issued here, referred to the recent shelling from across the border and grave losses suffered by the people residing in border districts like Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu, Samba, Kathua districts in Jammu division and Kupwara, Uri and Tangdhar in the valley, leaving their lives completely shattered. He called for immediate completion of the survey and liberal compensation packages for families who have lost their homes, livestock and sources of livelihood, and urged the Chief Minister to support the rebuilding of damaged homes and revival of local businesses.
The personal reach out of the Chief Minister to affected families has instilled a sense of confidence among them and rekindled hope about their early rehabilitation, the NC leader said.
Sadhotra also lauded the “bold and timely” stand of the Chief Minister on the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), expressing hope that the move will bring significant and lasting benefits to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasised the urgent need to utilise the Chenab waters to augment drinking water supply schemes in Jammu, where people have been grappling with acute water shortages due to prolonged summer heatwaves and inadequate water resources. He also underlined the strategic importance of projects like the Tulbul Navigation Lock in Sopore, which could be pivotal in enhancing waterway transport and irrigation in the region.
Highlighting the potential of Jammu and Kashmir as a Hydel Power hub, the former minister pointed out that the run-of-the-river waters can be efficiently channelled through existing and future hydropower projects, offering a major boost to the power sector.
Sadhotra urged the Chief Minister to address the burgeoning unemployment, which has accumulated during the past ten years. He said the CM’s instructions to recruitment bodies for expediting the recruitment process will go a long way in mitigating the concerns of the unemployed youth. He also sought 70 per cent reservation for locals in various projects and industrial units with a thrust on crash training for the skilled and unskilled workforce engaged there.
The Chief Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to harnessing Jammu and Kashmir’s huge resources for the collective welfare of its people, the statement said, adding that he assured that both short-term relief and long-term development projects are being planned with a focus on sustainability and inclusive growth.
