Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary today chaired a meeting of the Sub-Committee constituted to examine the issues related to Gair Mumkin Khads in Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting, held at the Civil Secretariat Srinagar, was attended by Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmad Rana and Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Cooperatives and Elections, Javid Ahmad Dar, who are members of the Sub-Committee.
The Deputy Chief Minister stressed the need for seeking public suggestions before finalizing the committee’s report through designated offices. He directed on designating a nodal officer from the Civil Secretariat for easy access for submission of suggestions by the general public. He directed that the report be submitted in a time-bound manner, ensuring that the genuine public concerns are addressed in a fair and legitimate way. Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra, briefed the Sub-Committee on the present status of Gair Mumkin Khads and the ongoing process of segregation.
Speaking during the meeting, the Deputy Chief Minister emphasized the need for pragmatic and people-centric decisions to ensure amicable resolution of issues faced by the public. He said that policy interventions must maintain a balance between the environmental protection and safeguarding the livelihoods and property rights of citizens.
The Committee directed for constitution of a technical team for proper segregation of Khads and submission of accurate details. Directions were issued for identification of chronic problem areas to address recurring public issues effectively. Speaking on the occasion, Javed Ahmad Rana stressed the importance of adopting a balanced and environmentally sustainable approach while addressing the issues related to Gair Mumkin Khads.
He emphasized the need for coordinated efforts among the departments to safeguard the ecological interests while ensuring relief to the affected population. Agriculture Minister highlighted the importance of transparency, public participation and timely redressal of grievances.
The Sub-Committee discussed in detail the existing status of Gair Mumkin Khads, Daryas and Nallahs, along with related concerns, with the objective of providing relief to the general public wherever required. The members of the Sub-Committee also put forth various suggestions and highlighted several public concerns requiring urgent attention.
Among others, the meeting was attended by Secretary Revenue Department Rajiv Rajan, Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar, Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation Dr. Devansh Yadav, VC JDA, Chief Engineer I&FC Jammu, Rupesh Kumar and other senior officers of the concerned departments.