RAJOURI: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday urged the authorities to grant divisional status to the Pir Panjal range, encompassing Rajouri and Poonch districts, and the Chenab Valley, covering Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar districts, to ensure better administrative outreach and resolve long-standing grievances in these remote hilly areas.
Speaking at the party’s public interaction programme ‘Gal Baat’ in Rajouri, Mufti highlighted the administrative challenges faced by residents of these regions, arguing that the current setup forces people to travel long distances to Jammu or Srinagar for routine official work.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, the PDP chief stressed that several hilly pockets in the Pir Panjal range and Chenab Valley require recognition as separate districts to bring governance closer to the people. She specifically mentioned areas such as Kotranka and Budhal in Rajouri, noting that the vast expanse makes it difficult for the two deputy commissioners of Rajouri and Poonch to manage effectively. Mufti said the demand for divisional status would be raised both in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and directly with the government.
She clarified that the proposal seeks full divisional commissioners stationed in the Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley regions rather than hill councils, asserting that this measure would address many pending issues by reducing travel burdens and improving service delivery.
Mufti also criticised what she described as deliberate controversies around the proposed National Law University in Jammu and Kashmir, claiming it diverts attention from genuine concerns. She recalled that the bill for the university was passed during the PDP government and included plans for reservation of seats for local students, which she said remains the real priority. Questioning the limited access of students from Rajouri and Poonch to premier institutions like IIMs, IITs and NITs, she argued that the absence of such reservations disadvantages local youth.
The PDP leader raised concerns over the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, stating that it has not been enforced on the ground, depriving communities of grazing rights and land ownership. She announced that the party would reintroduce safeguards for Scheduled Tribes in the upcoming Budget session.
Mufti called for unity amid the challenging phase since the 2019 bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories and revocation of special status, urging people to engage in dialogue and listen to each other’s problems. She emphasised that development must not compromise the environment, while highlighting the tourism and horticulture potential in Poonch and Rajouri.
Pointing to the economic contributions of these sectors in the broader region, she noted that tourism sustains livelihoods for a significant portion of the population and horticulture supports millions of households. Mufti expressed hope that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah would focus on tapping this potential, claiming development in Rajouri and Poonch had suffered setbacks after the fall of the PDP government in 2018.
She reiterated the long-pending demand for the Mughal Road tunnel and its recognition as a national highway, stating that the road remains closed for nearly six months annually. Mufti said the issue would be pursued with Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari for speedy completion.
On unemployment in border and backward areas, she urged special recruitment drives for local residents, noting that post-Article 370 changes have opened jobs to outsiders, disadvantaging youth from the region. In the healthcare sector, she highlighted persistent vacancies in government medical colleges and institutions in Rajouri and Poonch over the past decade, calling for chief ministerial intervention to fill posts, strengthen Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University and improve school infrastructure.
The remarks reflect PDP’s continued focus on regional aspirations in Jammu division’s hilly and border districts, where demands for better administrative decentralisation, equitable opportunities and infrastructure development have persisted for years.
(Inputs from news agency)
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