Legislators raise issues of public importance during Zero Hour

JAMMU: During Zero Hour in the ongoing Assembly session of Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather, clarified that, as per established rules, the Ministers cannot be asked to provide impromptu responses to issues raised by the MLAs without prior notice.
He stated that without prior intimation, the concerned Ministers would be unable to present their positions on such matters.
The session witnessed several pressing public issues being highlighted by the MLAs.
Dr. Narinder Singh Raina, MLA RS Pura, sought House’s attention towards the notices served to 39 shopkeepers in Satwari for their relocation due to construction of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway. He was joined by MLAs Vikram Randhawa and Sham Lal Sharma in demanding withdrawal of the notices until the affected shopkeepers are rehabilitated as per government assurances.
Dr. Bharat Bhushan, MLA Kathua, raised concerns over increasing accidental deaths in Kathua due to over speeding dumpers carrying construction material. He urged that these vehicles should be restricted from plying through town’s interiors to prevent further loss of lives.
The issue of road blockages due to incessant rains and snowfall was one of the major issues brought up by MLAs Sajad Shaheen, Javaid Mirchal and Qaisar Jamsheed Lone. They highlighted the plight of residents in remote areas such as MahuMangit, Gool, and Neel in Banihal, as well as Machil and Karnah in Kupwara district, who are facing hardships due to road closures. They urged for immediate measures to restore connectivity to these hilly regions. They also demanded quality power supply to these areas especially during sehri and Iftar timings.
Senior Assembly member, Ghulam Ahmad Mir demanded an extension in the deadline for those constructing houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in remote areas. He maintained that the people whose land falls under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) are unable to meet the current deadline of March 31, 2025, and should be granted a sympathetic extension, considering their tribal and economically weaker backgrounds.
MLA Bijbehara, Dr. Bashir Veeri, called for initiating the settlement of villages in Anantnag to facilitate modernization and updating of revenue records. He also pressed for immediate posting of Patwaris in his constituency, as people are facing difficulties in obtaining revenue extracts necessary for securing credit amid the sowing season in the Valley.
Later, MLA Habbakadal, Shamima Firdous, raised the issue of electricity curtailments to several consumers in her area who failed to pay fines being charged by the concerned Department. She demanded giving sympathetic consideration to their pleas in view of the holy month of Ramadhan and restoring their power connections till they pay their bills.
MLA Chenani, Balwant Singh Mankotia, also raised an issue regarding a bridge declared unsafe in his constituency due to which one lakh population is being affected. He demanded for release of funds for undertaking the necessary repairs so that the people of vicinity would get relief.