Former Minister Seeks Separate District Status for Pampore | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Senior People’s Democratic Party leader and former minister Zahoor Ahmad Mir on Thursday demanded the establishment of a separate district headquarter for Pampore, citing administrative neglect and growing hardships faced by the local population.

Mir urged the Government of India to consider administrative reorganization of Pampore in light of the new delimitation exercise. He proposed that Pampore be elevated to district status by integrating adjoining areas from Srinagar and Budgam districts, arguing that such a move would ensure more effective governance for residents who share close geographical, economic, and social linkages with the town.

Highlighting Pampore’s historical and economic significance, Mir said the town enjoys a global identity as the Saffron Town and plays a vital role in Jammu and Kashmir’s economy. He alleged that the present administrative framework has failed to cater to the needs of the people and has instead created unnecessary hurdles.

Mir pointed out that Pampore’s inclusion under the Smart City Project 2035 has resulted in administrative overlapping, forcing residents to deal with multiple departments across Srinagar and Pulwama districts. He said people are often required to obtain No Objection Certificates from offices located in different districts, leading to delays, confusion, and harassment.

Providing historical context, Mir said that during the tenure of the previous government, the decision to establish a sub district at Awantipora was taken as a compromise due to its central location between Tral and Pampore. However, he said the post delimitation scenario has rendered the arrangement inadequate for Pampore’s expanding administrative and developmental requirements.

As an interim measure, the PDP leader demanded the immediate posting of an Additional Deputy Commissioner in Pampore tehsil for at least two to three days a week to address pending administrative matters and provide immediate relief to the people.

“Pampore is not just a geographical entity, it is a vital economic hub for Jammu and Kashmir. The government must recognize the hardships faced by the inhabitants and ensure that administrative boundaries facilitate development rather than create obstacles,” Mir said.

The demand has added to the ongoing discourse on administrative restructuring in Jammu and Kashmir following delimitation, with Pampore emerging as a key area seeking reorganization. [KNT]