New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Jammu and Kashmir president and Rajya Sabha member Sat Sharma, along with Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Ali Khatana, on Tuesday met Union Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister J.P. Nadda and sought measures to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and improve fertiliser supply in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to a party statement, Sharma thanked the Union Minister for the National Medical Commission’s approval of 50 additional MBBS seats each for Government Medical College, Jammu, and Government Medical College, Srinagar.
He urged the Centre to further strengthen healthcare facilities in the Union Territory, particularly in remote and border areas, and called for the early operationalisation of AIIMS Kashmir. Sharma also sought additional super-speciality facilities, specialist doctors, advanced diagnostic services and research infrastructure for AIIMS Jammu.
Khatana raised issues related to fertiliser transportation and distribution, stating that although freight trains reach Pampore and Anantnag, fertilisers are unloaded at Udhampur, increasing transportation costs and causing supply disruptions during highway closures. He requested that fertilisers be transported directly to Kashmir by rail.
The Rajya Sabha member also alleged monopolistic practices in fertiliser distribution, claiming that some companies compel farmers to purchase tagged agricultural products along with essential fertilisers. He urged wider participation of other agencies to promote competition and improve the availability of fertilisers for farmers.
According to the statement, Nadda assured the two MPs that the Centre would examine the issues relating to healthcare expansion, AIIMS Kashmir and fertiliser transportation and distribution on priority.
