JAMMU, MARCH 04: The Deputy Chief Minister said that the demand for construction of tunnel on the road connecting Keran and Jumgund area of Kupwara for providing all weather connectivity will be taken up with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India. He said DPR would also be prepared and forwarded to concerned.
The Deputy Chief Minister was replying to a question raised by Mir Saifullah.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that Keran sector is connected with the rest of UT of J&K via Pharkiyan Gali to Keran road (46.76 Km), maintained by BRO. He further said that the road remains partially closed during the winter season due to snow accumulation and regular snow clearance is being done by BRO for providing connectivity to Keran sector. “The PMGSY Road Zirhama-Jumgund (length 25.00 km) is a high-altitude road. Snow clearance operations though carried out regularly but during heavy snow spells clearance operation becomes difficult beyond first 6 km and gets temporarily delayed till weather improves due to poor visibility, frost action, avalanches/ snow slides from upper reaches, especially in kms from 17th to 20th”, he added.
The Deputy Chief Minister further informed that no alternate roads are available at present for the Keran and Jumgund areas. He said Pharkiyan Gali to Keran (46.76 Km) road is maintained by BRO.
2,548.75 hectares of saffron land rejuvenated under National Mission on Saffron: Javed Dar The Minister for Agriculture Production, Javed Ahmad Dar today informed that the National Mission on Saffron has made significant advancements, particularly strengthening of the irrigation system, rejuvenating 2,548.75 hectares of saffron land. The Minister while replying to a question by Justice Hasnain Masoodi in the Legislative Assembly further said that the Government has successfully halted decline in saffron area and area under this crop has remained at 3,715 hectares (3665 Ha in Kashmir division and 50 Ha in Kishtwar) since 2010-11, with more areas identified for expansion supported by HADP. He further said that the productivity has enhanced from 2.50 kg/ha in 2009-10 to a maximum recorded productivity of 4.42 kg/ha in rejuvenated areas during 2023. He said that the National Mission on Saffron initiated a plan to construct a network of 124 community bore-wells. Each bore-well is intended to serve an area of 30 hectares, connected to sprinkler irrigation systems designed to support the irrigation needs of a total of 3,665 hectares of saffron fields.
He further informed that 85 bore-wells have been handed over to the Agriculture Department, however, efforts to construct the remaining 39 bore-wells have faced significant obstacles. Despite multiple invitations for tenders, there has been consistently poor participation in the tendering process.