Issue prompt, verified updates on highway status: CM Omar to officials

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday directed officials to promptly issue verified information regarding the status of the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway (NH-44), ensuring that the public stays updated with accurate facts.

This directive comes in the wake of allegations by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and Pulwama MLA Waheed Para, who claimed that the blockades on the Mughal Road and NH-44 were “deliberate.”

A spokesperson for the J&K government stated that, amid circulating rumours and misinformation on social media about a “deliberate delay” in the movement of fruit-laden trucks on NH-44, the Chief Minister, while chairing a high-level meeting to review post-flood relief and restoration measures across the Union Territory, instructed Divisional Commissioners and the IGP (National Highway) to provide verified and timely updates.

Officials informed the Chief Minister that the slow movement of traffic was due to poor road conditions along certain stretches of the highway, and not the result of any deliberate obstruction.

The Chief Minister’s remarks came a day after PDP leader Para alleged that there was a deliberate attempt to undermine Kashmir’s apple industry — a vital part of the region’s economy — to benefit apple growers in Himachal Pradesh.

“Mughal Road and NH-44 blockades are deliberate. Amid border skirmishes, what’s the justification for stopping apple trucks? If it were Operation Sindoor or the Yatra, would the roads remain blocked for this long? What justification does the government have? Accountability must be fixed and movement restored,” Para posted on X.

Recently, apple growers and traders across the Kashmir Valley voiced strong criticism against the government over the prolonged closure of the Jammu–Srinagar highway — a vital link connecting the region to the rest of the country. The highway closure sparked panic during the peak harvest season, as growers were unable to transport their produce.

The road was restored shortly after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah held a virtual meeting with Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Last week, Srinagar MP and National Conference (NC) leader Aga Ruhullah Mehdi also alleged that a “pattern” was emerging, suggesting an economic war was being waged on Kashmir’s horticulture sector.

“After hue and cry, the national highway was opened today. Traffic from Jammu to Srinagar was allowed but our trucks which were stranded (from Kashmir to Jammu) were not allowed to move to Jammu. Last year, we saw how trucks were stopped on the highway and kept stranded deliberately until our fruits rotted. There is a pattern which shows a battle is being waged on our economy,” Mehdi had alleged.

Meets Australian delegation to discuss CSR projects

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday met with an Indo-Australian delegation led by Sajid Saiyed, Chairperson and Founder of Bharat CSR Network and the Circular Economy Alliance Australia (CEAA), to discuss a range of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects aimed at fostering sustainable development in Jammu and Kashmir.

“The delegation proposed a range of initiatives aimed at promoting community empowerment and environmental sustainability, including the establishment of Smart Villages, setting up Artificial Intelligence (AI) Labs, implementing Waste-to-Wealth programmes, undertaking water remediation projects, constructing community centres and providing rehabilitation support for flood-affected communities,” an official spokesman said after the meeting.

Welcoming the proposals, the chief minister appreciated the delegation’s commitment to inclusive development and identified sports, skill enhancement and greenfield projects as priority sectors for collaboration.

He urged the team to develop concrete proposals, particularly in areas such as building libraries, upgrading schools and introducing sustainability measures at the school level.

Abdullah assured the delegation of the government’s full support, noting that such partnerships play a crucial role in driving long-term socio-economic progress. — PTI