The Centre has decided to fast-track its developmental schemes for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh even as it is taking all precautions to ensure that the supplies to these regions do not get hit during the winter season. Tension continues to prevail in J&K and Ladakh over the removal of the state's special status and the government’s effort is to equip the two regions which will witness their first winters in their new avatar as Union territories.
Three main issues were on the table when Union Home Secretary A.K. Bhalla held the first administrative meeting for the undivided state following the abrogation of Article 370 on Tuesday. The meeting had Inter-Ministerial Representation from various central ministries like finance, law and urban development to assess the situation on all counts—security to civil administration, like availability of medicines, fuel and rations .
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The first concern of the government is the smooth transition of the undivided state of J&K into a UT and bifurcation of the state to carve out Ladakh. The date of reorganisation of the state is October 31 and the home ministry has kickstarted discussion with related departments on bifurcation of assets and creation of infrastructure in the two UTs which will now come directly under the administrative control of the central government.
Secondly, the supply of essential items like ration, medicines and fuel to far-flung areas particularly Ladakh region which gets cut off due to heavy snow in the winter months was discussed threadbare and all related central departments were asked to prepare for it. The closing of the Zoji La pass, the Srinagar-Leh highway, which connects Ladakh to the rest of the state in the winters has to be factored in before the winter season sets in.
Thirdly, the central government also reviewed the special financial assistance given to the state under the prime minister's package for development of the undivided state. Under this package, several central schemes were launched in J&K in 2015. While there has been concern over the slow pace of implementation of these central schemes, the home secretary is learnt to have impressed upon all central ministries to focus on their respective schemes and ensure that the work is progressing on the ground.
In an official statement, the home ministry on Tuesday said that the meeting held with various departments assessed “the implementation of central schemes in J&K and initiatives to be taken to expedite return of normalcy.”
The various central ministries will now individually review their schemes for J&K and Ladakh and speed up developmental and relief measures. Periodic review meetings will now be held with the home ministry from time to time to take stock of the progress in these areas ahead of the formal bifurcation of J&K.