J&K livestock issue: CM to send high-level official team to Punjab

Ziraat Times News Desk

High-level J&K delegation to visit Punjab for talks; says government committed to ensuring smooth livestock movement

SRINAGAR, July 6: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday assured mutton dealers that the Jammu & Kashmir Government is taking concrete steps to resolve issues affecting the transportation of livestock through Punjab, including sending a high-level delegation to hold discussions with the Punjab Government.

The assurance came during a meeting with a delegation of mutton dealers from Jammu & Kashmir, who raised concerns over difficulties being faced during the transit of livestock through Punjab, disrupting the regular supply of livestock into the Union Territory.

Minister for Tribal Affairs Javed Ahmed Rana and Minister for Transport and Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Satish Sharma were also present during the meeting.

The delegation apprised the Chief Minister of the challenges encountered during transportation and sought government intervention to ensure the unhindered movement of livestock.

After hearing their concerns, Omar Abdullah reiterated that the government is fully committed to protecting the interests of traders, livestock transporters and consumers, and assured them that all bottlenecks affecting livestock movement would be addressed.

He informed the delegation that a high-level team of senior officers from the Jammu & Kashmir Government would shortly visit Punjab to hold discussions with the concerned authorities and work out an early, practical and mutually acceptable solution to the issues affecting livestock transportation.

The Chief Minister’s initiative follows his earlier communication with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, to whom he had written a demi-official (D.O.) letter requesting the Punjab Government to facilitate the smooth and uninterrupted movement of livestock and address the difficulties faced by transporters from Jammu & Kashmir during transit.

According to the government, the Punjab Chief Minister had responded positively, assuring that the matter would be examined on priority and necessary action would be taken to resolve the concerns.

Officials said the proposed visit by the senior J&K delegation is part of the follow-up mechanism agreed upon by the two governments to ensure effective coordination and expedite a lasting resolution to the issue.