Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 10: A meeting of the executive committee of the Dogra Sadar Sabha (DSS) was held today under the leadership of president Thakur Gulchain Singh Charak. The committee discussed various aspects of the Union Territory Budget presented by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the Finance portfolio.
The DSS acknowledged some positive initiatives in the budget, such as the establishment of Shakti Sadans, PoJK Bhawan, grid connectivity to Shri Amarnath Shrine, and increased pensions across all categories. However, the Sabha expressed concern that these measures appeared largely cosmetic. DSS urged the inclusion of annuities for Gallantry Awardees and their war widows in the pension enhancements.
The Sabha raised alarms over the adverse impact of recent infrastructural developments, such as direct railway and roadway connectivity to Katra and the Kashmir Valley, on Jammu’s local economy. Small traders, hoteliers, and transporters are reportedly on the verge of bankruptcy due to a sharp decline in their traditional livelihoods. DSS criticized the budgetary allocations for these sectors as inadequate.
DSS members expressed disappointment over what they perceived as a budget heavily skewed towards Kashmir. While tourist hubs like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonmarg, and Kokernag received substantial allocations, Jammu’s potential tourist destinations such as Sanasar, Nathatop, Padri, and Sarthal were largely ignored. Similarly, the development of historical monuments, water bodies, and religious tourism in regions like Rajouri, Poonch and the Shiv Khori belt received insufficient attention.
The committee highlighted the neglect of critical projects like the Mubarak Mandi Complex restoration, Tawi Lake, Kandi region irrigation, and vertical parking solutions. It also criticized the Government for ignoring the plight of Ramban’s population affected by landslides due to poorly planned road constructions.
Prominent participants in the meeting included Col Karan Singh (retired), Advocate H C Jalmaria, G A Khwaja, Maj Gen Sunita Kapoor (retired), Prof Anita Billawaria, Uma Katal, Nasib Singh Manhas, Arvinder Singh Amn, Amanat Ali Shah and Narinder Singh Jamwal. The Sabha urged the Government to adopt a balanced approach in budget allocations to address the developmental aspirations of the Jammu region.
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