RAMBAN: Agriculture Production Minister Javid Ahmad Dar on Thursday reviewed the impact of heavy rainfall and landslides in Ramban and adjoining areas, directing agencies to expedite restoration of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) and accord priority to the movement of fruit-laden trucks during the peak marketing season.
Accompanied by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, the minister inspected the Samroli-Udhampur stretch of NH-44 to assess restoration work and traffic management following landslides and shooting stones triggered by incessant rainfall.
During the inspection, Dar reviewed clearance operations and directed the concerned agencies to restore affected stretches on a war footing. He asked officials to deploy adequate manpower, machinery and other resources at vulnerable locations to minimise traffic disruptions and ensure commuter safety.
Later, chairing a review meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Ramban, the minister stressed close coordination among the district administration, Police, Traffic Police, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Public Works Department and other agencies to deal with the situation effectively.
Highlighting the ongoing fruit harvesting season, Dar directed that fruit-laden trucks be given priority movement on NH-44 to prevent delays in transporting perishable horticulture produce to markets outside Jammu and Kashmir.
He instructed the Traffic Police and other enforcement agencies to regulate traffic in a manner that facilitates the smooth movement of fruit consignments, particularly along congestion-prone and vulnerable stretches of the highway. He also called for advance traffic planning and coordinated vehicle movement wherever road and weather conditions permit.
The minister directed authorities to establish a round-the-clock monitoring mechanism on vulnerable stretches of NH-44 to ensure immediate response to fresh landslides, shooting stones and road blockages. He also emphasised the need for timely traffic advisories and real-time updates for transporters and fruit growers.
Dar said restoration of the highway and uninterrupted transportation of horticulture produce must remain a priority during the peak harvesting season to safeguard growers’ incomes and minimise post-harvest losses.
During the meeting, Deputy Commissioner Ramban briefed the minister on restoration measures and the assessment of damage to crops and other assets for relief and compensation under the prescribed norms. The Senior Superintendent of Police, Ramban, informed him about traffic regulation measures and the 24×7 monitoring mechanism on the highway.
Earlier in the day, Dar, accompanied by Nasir Aslam Wani, visited the Jabalipora Fruit Mandi in Anantnag to review arrangements for transportation and marketing of fruit.
Representatives of the Fruit Mandi Association highlighted issues related to the movement of fruit-laden vehicles on NH-44 and sought measures to prevent disruptions during the marketing season. They also raised demands for allotment of shops, creation of a dedicated corridor for the mandi, construction of a mosque and improvement of basic infrastructure.
The minister assured growers and traders that their genuine concerns would be examined on priority and said the issues would be taken up with the concerned departments. He stressed the need to strengthen mandi infrastructure, improve logistics and create a more efficient marketing environment for the horticulture sector.
Among those present during the review and inspections were MLAs Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri, Altaf Ahmad Wani, Abdul Majeed Bhat Larmi, Reyaz Ahmad Khan, Zafar Ali Khatana, Sajjad Shaheen and Arjun Singh Raju, besides senior officers from the Agriculture and Horticulture departments.
