*ANB NEWS NETWORK*
Jammu, Feb 7: ANB: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Saturday chaired a high-level review meeting in Jammu to assess the progress of development projects in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, undertaking a comprehensive sector-wise evaluation of ongoing initiatives.
The meeting reviewed key sectors including road infrastructure, power, industry, tourism, and 4G and optical fibre connectivity. It was attended by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the Union Home Secretary and senior officials from the Central and Jammu and Kashmir governments.
Addressing the meeting, the Home Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India remains committed to building a developed and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir. He noted that sustained efforts by the Centre have led to unprecedented progress in development projects across the Union Territory. He stressed the need to fully harness Jammu and Kashmir’s hydropower potential and called for ensuring 100 per cent saturation of Central welfare schemes so that the benefits of development initiatives reach intended beneficiaries.
Shah said the continued interest of tourists in visiting Jammu and Kashmir reflects the region’s strong tourism potential. He emphasised the need for aggressive marketing of tourist destinations in other parts of the country and assured that the Centre would extend full assistance for developing new tourism circuits in the Union Territory.
Highlighting youth engagement, the Home Minister directed officials to prioritise the development of sports infrastructure and the establishment of sports academies. He said efforts would be made to mobilise investments of around ₹200 crore in collaboration with sports bodies. He also underscored the importance of promoting the dairy sector in Jammu and Kashmir through support from the National Dairy Development Board.
In a significant development, Jammu and Kashmir has been brought under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme for the first time in the 2025–26 financial year, enabling access to 50-year interest-free loans for capital expenditure projects. Shah underlined that improved fiscal discipline would help stabilise the Union Territory’s fiscal position over time.
He said India is moving steadily towards the goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047 and reiterated that the Centre would continue to extend full support to Jammu and Kashmir in advancing development, peace and stability. ANB
