SRINAGAR, May 22, 2026 : Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting of the Sub-Committee constituted to examine issues related to Gair Mumkin Khads across Jammu & Kashmir and called for submission of a comprehensive report within a fixed timeframe.
The meeting was held at the Civil Secretariat Srinagar and attended by Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmad Rana, and Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Cooperatives and Elections, Javid Ahmad Dar, who are members of the committee.
During the meeting, the Deputy Chief Minister stressed the importance of public participation before finalising the committee’s recommendations and directed authorities to designate a nodal officer at the Civil Secretariat for easy submission of public suggestions and grievances.
He instructed officials to ensure that the committee’s report is prepared in a time-bound manner while addressing genuine public concerns in a fair and lawful way.
Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra, briefed the committee regarding the present status of Gair Mumkin Khads and the ongoing process of segregation.
Speaking during the review meeting, Surinder Choudhary emphasised the need for pragmatic and people-centric policy decisions to resolve issues faced by residents while maintaining environmental safeguards.
He stated that policy interventions must strike a balance between environmental protection and safeguarding livelihoods, land rights and public interests.
The committee also directed the constitution of a technical team for proper segregation of Khads and preparation of accurate data and reports. Instructions were issued to identify chronic problem areas where residents frequently face difficulties.
Minister Javed Ahmad Rana highlighted the need for an environmentally sustainable and balanced approach, stressing coordination among departments to protect ecological interests while providing relief to affected people.
Agriculture Minister Javid Ahmad Dar underlined the importance of transparency, public participation and timely redressal of grievances linked to the issue.
The Sub-Committee held detailed discussions regarding the status of Gair Mumkin Khads, Daryas and Nallahs across Jammu & Kashmir with the objective of finding practical solutions and providing relief wherever required.
Senior officers from the Revenue Department, Jal Shakti Department, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Jammu Development Authority and other concerned departments also attended the meeting.
