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This is an archive article published on March 3, 2005
Governor holds up essentials
Kashmir's lifeline, the Jammu-Srinagar highway, was fit for travel on Monday but vehicles with essential commodities for the Valley were not...
Kashmir8217;s lifeline, the Jammu-Srinagar highway, was fit for travel on Monday but vehicles with essential commodities for the Valley were not allowed to move for nearly 22 hours because the Governor wanted to flag them off and lead the way.
Sources said the BRO certified the road technically fit for travel on Monday afternoon but goods trucks, stranded for almost a fortnight, were held up after Governor Lt Gen retd S.K. Sinha formally reopened the route the next day.
There was further delay on Tuesday. Sources said Sinha8217;s office requisitioned a state chopper to reach Banihal 8212; the start of the highway. The chopper was made available at Jammu after recalling it from Kupwara. However, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed offered to give Sinha a lift on his way to Doda where he, along with Deputy CM and other officials, planned to do an aerial survey of the worst-hit areas of the district.
Around 11.30 am, the Governor was informed that the CM would drop him at Banihal. The flight took off at 12.30 pm but did not make it to the first stop due to bad weather. Sinha turned back after he was told the road had been reopened by Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Minister Taj Mohiuddin at 1.30 pm to avoid further delay.
Raj Bhawan spokesman Madan Manto said, 8216;8216;There was no question of the Governor flagging off the transport on the reopened highway. We did not requisition a chopper from the CM8217;s office. The Governor, CM, Deputy CM and MLAs from Kishtwar and Doda flew in MI-17 IAF helicopter towards Banihal but could not touch down due to bad weather.8217;8217;
However, government officials confirmed the request for a state chopper was made to the Chief Secretary and Sinha had planned to lead the first batch of traffic.
The Governor reached Banihal today but his desire to hog the limelight resulted in nearly a day8217;s delay in reaching essential supplies to Srinagar.
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