SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today held an interactive meeting with the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC), a collective of eminent retired civil servants from Jammu and Kashmir led by former Advisor to the Governor, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai.
During the deliberations, the Chief Secretary patiently heard the concerns and suggestions put forth by the group regarding critical developmental, environmental, and civic issues in the Union Territory.
He appreciated the GCC members for their constructive engagement and assured that several of their suggestions are already under active consideration or implementation at various levels.
The Chief Secretary directed the concerned officers to take note of the valuable inputs offered by the retired officers, recognizing their deep institutional knowledge and field experience. He emphasized that such consultations help strengthen governance by aligning departmental initiatives with ground realities and public expectations.
Prominent officers who attended the meeting included the Additional Chief Secretary, PWD; Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF); Secretary, Health; Vice Chairman, LCMA; Commissioner, SMC; Chairperson, J&K Pollution Control Committee; and Chief Engineers of PWD, Jal Shakti, and Irrigation & Flood Control Departments.
The Group highlighted several priority areas requiring focused attention, particularly the scientific management of solid waste across Jammu and Srinagar cities. They underlined the need for a comprehensive waste treatment strategy, including the quantification and scientific disposal of legacy waste accumulated over the years.
The members also urged the administration to expedite flood mitigation measures for Srinagar, including the enhancement of the Flood Spill Channel’s carrying capacity and the dredging of Wular Lake to increase its water-holding potential. They described these steps as essential for protecting lives and properties in flood-prone areas.
Further, the GCC stressed the importance of preserving and rejuvenating the region’s water bodies, including lakes, wetlands, and springs, calling them natural assets that define Kashmir’s ecology, heritage, and scenic identity.
In the sphere of urban mobility, the group advocated for engineering-based traffic management rather than a purely enforcement-driven approach. They suggested that identified bottlenecks be systematically removed through better road design and planning interventions as suggested by the group.
The meeting also saw discussion on health infrastructure, with specific suggestions for the reuse and optimization of the GB Pant Hospital facilities and the augmentation of M&CCH Anantnag to enhance healthcare delivery in South Kashmir in this important sector.
Among the GCC members who attended the meeting were Naseema Lankar, Lateef-uz-Zaman Deva, Kifayat Hussain Rizvi, S. Madni, G.J. Nehvi, A.R. Khan, Khaliq-uz-Zaman Bhat, Abdul Majeed Bhat, Iftikhar Hakeem, and Iftikhar Drabu.
Concluding the interaction, the Chief Secretary reiterated his appreciation for the GCC’s informed perspectives and assured that their recommendations would be appropriately forwarded to the respective departments for examination and time-bound action.
He also encouraged continued engagement between the GCC and government departments to ensure that expert knowledge and experience meaningfully contribute to the UT’s development journey.
