Jammu, March 04, 2025 – During the Question Hour of the Budget Session 2025 in the Legislative Assembly, Jammu and Kashmir’s leadership outlined key infrastructure and agricultural development plans. The Deputy Chief Minister announced that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a tunnel connecting Keran and Jumgund in Kupwara district will be prepared and submitted to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, to ensure all-weather connectivity. Replying to MLA Mir Saifullah, he noted that the 46.76 km Pharkiyan Gali to Keran road, maintained by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), faces partial closure in winter due to snow, despite regular clearance efforts. The 25 km PMGSY road from Zirhama to Jumgund also struggles with snow clearance beyond the first 6 km during heavy snowfall, compounded by avalanches and poor visibility. No alternate routes currently exist for these areas.
Minister for Agriculture Production, Javed Ahmad Dar, informed the House, in response to Justice Hasnain Masoodi, that the National Mission on Saffron has rejuvenated 2,548.75 hectares of saffron land and stabilized the cultivation area at 3,715 hectares since 2010-11, with productivity rising from 2.50 kg/ha in 2009-10 to 4.42 kg/ha in rejuvenated areas by 2023. A Rs 400 crore project sanctioned in 2010-11 has enhanced irrigation with 124 planned community bore-wells, of which 85 are operational, though 77 are currently non-functional. Challenges persist, with delays in constructing 39 remaining bore-wells due to poor tender participation. Dar highlighted the Saffron Park/IIKSTC’s impact, raising farmer prices from Rs 80,000/kg to Rs 2,20,000/kg in 2021-22 and improving stigma recovery from 22g/kg to 28g/kg through scientific drying methods. E-auctions have curbed intermediary exploitation, ensuring fair prices. However, real estate pressures and vandalism of irrigation systems threaten progress. Supplementaries were raised by Sunil Sharma, M.Y. Tarigami, and Arjun Singh.
Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmad Rana, responding to Nizam-u-din Bhat, revealed that Rs 132 crore has been spent under JJM, UT Capex, and AMRUT 2.0 to augment drinking water supply in Bandipora constituency. A DPR for the Bandipora Town water supply scheme under AMRUT 2.0 is being prepared. He emphasized that providing potable water to every household, a national priority under the Jal Jeevan Mission since 2019, is being extended to urban areas of J&K via AMRUT 2.0. On the Aham-Sharief-Athwatoo-Waven water supply scheme, he noted partial completion: Herpora Athwatoo and Tanghtari are functional, Bunpora Athwatoo/Tanghat is 60% complete, Ahamsharief 70%, and Waven 65%. Supplementaries were raised by Nazir Gurezi, Balwant Singh Mankotia, and Choudhary Mohammad Akram.