Defence Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, who is on a visit to the State, called on the Chief Minister here this evening.The two leaders discussed several strategic issues related to prevailing situation in the State during the meeting.The Chief Minister pressed for speeding up the cases of land vacation by the Army in various parts of the State and release of rent dues in favour of owners whose land is in possession of the Army. She sought intervention of the Defence Minister for the return of certain pockets of land in the State which are no longer required for operational purposes by the Army and about which consensus has already been arrived between State Government and the Defence Ministry.Mehbooba Mufti also raised with the Defence Minister pacing up of work on some important roads in the State being constructed by the Border Roads Organisation like four lanning of Srinagar- Baramulla –Uri road, Rajouri- Thanamandi- Surankote road, four lanning of Akhnoor- Poonch road, Reasi- Arnas – Mahore road, Turtuk – Hanuthang. She also pitched for construction of tunnels at Razdan pass on Bandipore- Gurez road and Sadhna pass on Kupwara-Tanghdar road.The Chief Minister also flagged the idea of opening areas like Battalik, Siachin base and other areas for tourist activities including trekking, mountain biking etc.Nirmala Sitharaman assured Mehbooba Mufti to look into the issues raised by her in a time bound manner.
Army Chief, Gen. Bipin Rawat; Principal Secretary, Home, R. K. Goyal; Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Rohit Kansal and other senior officers of State and Central Governments were present on the occasion.