Jammu, Feb 6: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday asserted that he had learnt to navigate (drawback) of dual power structure in the Union Territory setup as one could not wish away the reality.

CM Omar made these remarks in his post-budget press conference, while responding to a question if the transfer of the Principal Secretary Finance, days ahead of the budget presentation, impacted budget preparation. In response to this question, CM Omar said, ìFortunately, it had no impact at all and we were able to present a good budget to the people of J&K. It (transfer) was indicative of how different it is to work in a Union Territory as to a state. But these are the realities of the situation, we are working under presently.î

But did he see it as an impact of the dual power structure in J&K? CM Omarís response to this question was, ìYou cannot wish away the reality that we are operating underÖ and thatís fine. Iíve learnt to navigate it. I think we are doing a better job navigating it this year than we did last year. Thatís all, I say on that.î

In his reply to the debate on the motion of thanks on the Lieutenant Governorís Address in the Legislative Assembly on February 5, CM Omar had shared that while they were preparing the budget, he (CM) read on social media about the transfer of Finance Secretary to Delhi with immediate effect.

However, after speaking to the Chief Secretary, an arrangement was made and it was ensured that the Finance Secretary did not leave the station (J&K) till February 9, he had mentioned.

Responding to a question about the measures to ensure return of Kashmiri migrants, he stated that he spelt out a lot of measures for them in alignment with the “governmentís commitment to the resettlement and welfare of Kashmiri migrant families.”

ìBut I believe that no package, funds or scheme can actually make their ëGhar-Wapsií (return) possible as they left the Valley because their sense of security was taken away. They felt unsafe living in the Valley. They will only be able to go back when that sense of safety is restored to them ñ KPs as well as other migrants and thatís a collective responsibility.î

Spelling out the measures taken for the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants, in his budget speech, he said that the government was accelerating the construction of 6,000 transit accommodations for Kashmiri migrant government employees.

When asked if reduction in rebate on High-Speed Diesel (HSD) by Rs 2 per liter announced by him in the budget wonít burden the common man, the Chief Minister stated, ìEven with reduction of rebate, the HSD price in Jammu and Kashmir will be still lower than that in our neighboring states, like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi.î

In his budget speech, he had asserted that the measure (reduction in rebate) would rationalise the price of HSD and encourage a shift towards cleaner technologies.

Responding to a question about the criticism of his budget by BJP, he stated, ìIím happy that they said it is a National Conference centric budget. I would have been devastated if somebody had told me that it was a BJP-centric budget.î

With regard to a question if 6 free gas cylinders announcement would also rely on some central scheme, he asserted, ìWhy does it matter to you where it comes from as long as somebody gets it free? We will not transfer this burden to anybody else.î

Earlier, Principal Secretary Finance Department Santosh Kumar Vaidya, who is moving to Delhi on February 9, following his transfer, briefly explained the budget specifics.

Giving a background of the budget preparation process and the efforts of the Chief Minister, Vaidya said, ìPahalgam attack and recent floods in Jammu had put substantial stress on the economy of J&K. In this background, this budget is specifically people-centric and in a way, it responds to the fiscal stress that has occurred because of these two challenges. The Chief Minister over the past several months toured every nook and corner of J&K, listened to people and tried to accelerate all the developmental works across the Union Territory.î

Vaidya stated that the Chief Minister pursued the union government relentlessly and ensured maximum funds for J&K for development.

ìSpecifically for this budget, the Chief Minister has ensured that wide ranging consultations are undertaken with all the stakeholders so that the budget responds to the concerns expressed in those consultations. He has also ensured fine balance between the fiscal prudence and the welfare measures to respond to the challenges,î Vaidya said.

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With regard to a question reminding him of his statement of “having a plan B in case J&K statehood is not restored very soon” in one of his earlier interviews , the Chief Minister stated, “I’ve not arrived at the conclusion that we are not getting statehood and therefore my plan ‘B’ now has to become a ‘plan A’. I am still very hopeful that the commitment made to Jammu and Kashmir (for restoration of statehood) will be kept and thus everything else is an academic question.”

Banihal, Feb 6: NHPC Limited, a Navratna public sector enterprise of the Government of India, has invited online E-tenders for the execution of several major works related to the Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project in Ramban district.

The total estimated value of the tendered works stands at Rs 5,129 crore, marking a significant step towards the long-awaited implementation of the mega power project.

According to an official notice issued on February 5, NHPC has sought bids under the Domestic Competitive Bidding (DCB) mode, limited exclusively to Indian companies and contractors, for Package-I of the project. The scope of work under this package includes construction of diversion tunnels and adits, cofferdams for diverting the Chenab River, access tunnels and roads, as well as dam construction and hydro-mechanical works.

NHPC officials stated that the estimated cost of this package is Rs 5,129.03 crore, with a completion period of nine years (108 months). Interested bidders are required to submit an earnest money deposit of Rs 10 crore, while the cost of the tender document has been fixed at Rs 40,000. The tenders are scheduled to be opened on March 24.

Local residents of Ramban district have welcomed the development, expressing hope that the commencement of on-ground work on the Sawalkote project will generate large-scale employment opportunities and significantly boost the local economy, particularly in the Ramban region.

The 1,856-MW Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab River is spread across the districts of Ramban, Reasi and Udhampur. The dam will be constructed in Ramban district, the diversion tunnel for the Chenab River in Reasi district, and the underground powerhouse in Udhampur district. Conceived over six decades ago, the Sawalkote project, once completed, will become the largest hydropower project in J&K and the third largest in the country, with an estimated total project cost of Rs 31,380 crore.

The project has faced prolonged delays over the past several decades due to various reasons. Last year, the cancellation of tenders shortly after their issuance in July 2025 had caused widespread disappointment among the people of J&K, especially unemployed youth awaiting job opportunities. However, the fresh issuance of tenders has revived optimism, particularly among residents of the Tanger panchayat area of Ramban district where major portion of Sawalkote project including dam is located.

Over the past seven to eight years, several preliminary works, including the construction of a 1.5-kilometre access tunnel and a bridge across the Chenab River in the Tangar area, were carried out by the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation (JKPDC). In 2021, the project was transferred from JKPDC to NHPC. Subsequently, in January 2021, a 40-year Memorandum of Understanding MoU was signed between NHPC and the Jammu and Kashmir administration for the construction, operation and eventual transfer of the project back to JKPDC. During this period, NHPC addressed most of the financial, environmental and forest-related clearances, paving the way for the issuance of the first major construction tender for the Sawalkote project.

It may be recalled here that following the Pahalgam incident in April last year, the Central Government, while announcing the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, had also reiterated its resolve to expedite work on the Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project. Although an earlier tender invited from global consultancy firms in July 2025 was cancelled in August, delaying the project further, the latest tendering process has renewed hopes that the long-pending project will finally move towards implementation.

Srinagar, Feb 06: The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi on Friday reviewed prevailing security situation and assessed operational readiness in the region during his visit to White Knight Corps brigade in Nagrota, Jammu.

He was briefed on the counter-terrorism grid and appreciated the synergy in joint operations between the security forces.

The COAS commended the efforts of all stakeholders and emphasised the need for vigilance and people-centric approach while conducting operations in the region.

He also expressed confidence in the leadership and troops of White Knight Corps in safeguarding peace and security in the region.