Srinagar, February 13: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah concluded the pre-budget consultations for the upcoming 2025-26 Budget in Kashmir, holding meetings with public representatives from Shopian and Kupwara districts at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar. The discussions included the Chairpersons of District Development Councils and Members of the Legislative Assembly from both districts, who participated both in person and virtually.
In his address, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah emphasised the importance of selecting projects for the district CAPEX budget that can be realistically completed within a two- to three-year timeframe, with clear deliverables and alignment with the allocated funds. He stressed the need to prioritize projects that have achievable targets, meet public needs, and fit within the overall budget cycle.
The CM also highlighted that the purpose of these consultations was to gather valuable feedback from stakeholders and public representatives who are in touch with local realities. Their insights help propose projects that are essential for public welfare and development.
During the meeting, MLAs from Shopian presented various proposals focused on infrastructure development in their constituencies. Their recommendations included enhancing infrastructure in education, health, sports, Roads & Buildings , Power Development Department , and Public Health Engineering . They also called for adequate funding for irrigation and stressed the need to explore tourism potential in the region to create employment opportunities.
In a similar consultation with the representatives from Kupwara, the Chief Minister discussed key developmental priorities. The DDC Chairperson and MLAs from Karnah, Trehgam, Kupwara, Lolab, and Langate constituencies presented demands related to the upgradation and widening of roads, the enhancement of health and education infrastructure, and the improvement of the PHE sector. They also highlighted the importance of boosting tourism, especially in areas like Bangus and Lolab.
Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani endorsed these demands, particularly supporting the push to make the North Campus of the university fully functional with additional courses. He also advocated for addressing pressing issues like proper garbage disposal in Kupwara town, implementing rainwater harvesting to tackle water shortages, desilting irrigation khuls, and clamping down on drug trafficking. MLA Karnah also pointed out the need for eradicating the drug menace in the area.
Other key discussions included the urgency of finalising the site for the medical college to avoid further delays and upgrading the Sub-District Hospital to District Hospital status. MLAs also called for the construction of the Kupwara to Bandipora road, the Kupwara bypass road, and a mini-secretariat for Kupwara.
The Deputy Commissioners of Shopian and Kupwara provided detailed presentations on district profiles, demographics, and the existing infrastructure in key sectors like health, education, roads, drainage, public health engineering, and the power sector. They also shared updates on ongoing projects and the utilisation of District CAPEX and Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
All MLAs expressed their gratitude to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for involving them in the pre-budget consultations, acknowledging the government’s inclusive approach to the preparation of the 2025-26 Budget. The consultations also included representatives from trade unions, industrialists, entrepreneurs, and experts from various sectors including education, agriculture, horticulture, and economics, ensuring that the budget reflects the diverse needs of the region and contributes to overall public welfare.