Srinagar, Jul 06 (KNO): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday assured the Kashmir Mutton Dealers Association (KMDA) of taking up with the Punjab Government the issues faced by livestock transporters, with a high-level delegation set to visit Punjab within the next two days to seek an early resolution.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) after meeting the Chief Minister, KMDA General Secretary Mehraj-ud-Din said the delegation apprised Omar Abdullah of the difficulties mutton dealers continue to face while transporting livestock through Punjab despite recent interventions.
“He listened to our concerns, and we handed over all the documents and communications issued by the Punjab Government. The Chief Minister immediately called the concerned minister and directed him to take note of the issue and ensure it is resolved at the earliest,” Mehraj-ud-Din said.
He said the CM assured the delegation that a special committee would leave for Punjab within the next two days to take up the matter with the state's government.
“The delegation will comprise officials from the concerned department, representatives of the Kashmir Mutton Dealers Association and members of the Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA). We have been assured that the issue will be resolved through official-level talks with the Punjab Government,” he said.
Mehraj-ud-Din said the association is hopeful that the proposed visit will remove the hurdles being faced by livestock transporters and ensure hassle-free movement of livestock in the future.
According to an official statement, the Chief Minister assured the delegation that the government is fully committed to resolving the issue and that all bottlenecks affecting the movement of livestock through Punjab would be addressed.
“He informed the delegation that a high-level team from the Government of Jammu & Kashmir will visit Punjab in the coming days to engage with the concerned authorities and facilitate an early and amicable resolution,” the statement said.
The development comes days after the Kashmir Mutton Dealers Association called off its 10-day strike following a communication issued by the Punjab Government regarding the movement of livestock vehicles. The strike had disrupted the transportation of sheep to Jammu & Kashmir and triggered concerns over mutton availability in Kashmir, particularly during the ongoing marriage season, prompting the J&K Government to intervene with the Punjab authorities—(KNO)