JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday witnessed massive uproar over the continuous closure of Jammu- Srinagar and Jammu-Kishtwar National Highways and demanded answer from the government that why Chenani-Nashri tunnel will be thrown open for the traffic to avoid snow cover Patnitop.
As soon as the Assembly begins its functioning, Congress MLA from Inderwal Ghulam Mohammad Saroori stood up and raised the issue. Saroori said that both Jammu-Srinagar and Jammu-Kishtwar National Highways are closed at various places due to land sliding added that several passengers were trapped on both the Highways at various places.
Saroori said that several vehicular were trapped on the National Highway and demanded immediate opening of Chenani-Nashri tunnel so that the inconvenience caused to the people could be addressed beside the trapped passengers and vehicles could reach to their destinations. He said that much awaited Chenani-Nashri tunnel is ready and alleged that the government is only delaying the opening of the said tunnel as they are waiting for Prime Minister Narindra Modi nod for its inauguration.
“Why you are hoodwinking the people for the sake of inauguration of the tunnel— when did your PM get time— that doesn’t mean that people will left to suffer” said Saroori.
Saroori was soon castigated by the speaker Kavinder Gupta who clarified that Prime belongs to all including him.
Saroori soon find support from NC,s Ali Mohammad Sagar, MLA Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen and other opposition members including from BJP MLA from Doda Shakti Raj Parihar who also demanded that government should take up the matter with concern quarters for throwing Chenani-Nashri tunnel open for traffic. He also ask the government to present a detail about the status on Chenani-Nashri tunnel before the house. He urged upon the government to press man and machinery into service to clear the slides on Batote-Kishtwar stretch of the Highway.
R&B Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri assured the agitating members that he will look into the issue and will accordingly brief the house about the possibility on exploring the Chenani-Nashri tunnel for making it functional for traffic movement.