J&K: CM Omar Abdullah expresses delight at successful conduct of 5th Khelo India Winter Games at Gulmarg

GULMARG, MARCH 12: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that he was delighted to see the 5th Edition of Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) in Gulmarg held successfully.

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who was the chief guest on the occasion, also addressed the concluding function of the Khelo India Winter Games 2025 held in Gulmarg. “Finally, the 5th Khelo India Winter Games were held smoothly,” he remarked at the outset of his address while addressing a large gathering of athletes, officials and guests.

Reflecting on the challenges leading up to the event, the CM noted that persistent dry weather in January and February had raised concerns about whether the games would take place this year.

“Over the past four years, KIWG have been conducted with great enthusiasm. However, this year, we faced an unprecedented challenge as there was very little snow accumulation.”

He shared that a thorough assessment of the snow conditions was conducted by technical staff, leading to extensive discussions on whether the games should be held, postponed or cancelled. Eventually, he decided to postpone the event, hoping for snowfall.

“Then, by the grace of the Almighty, we received enough snow, and the 5th Edition of KIWG was officially announced,” he said.

As an avid skier himself, the CM shared a personal anecdote, saying he had attempted to ski earlier that day but found it difficult due to the high water content in the snow.
“If I found it challenging, I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for the athletes,” he said, appreciating their determination and resilience in overcoming the tough conditions to deliver commendable performances.

Reiterating Gulmarg’s status as the Winter Sports Capital of India, CM Omar Abdullah emphasized that the promotion and development of skiing in the country originated from Gulmarg.

He then traced the evolution of Gulmarg’s sports infrastructure, mentioning the development of chairlifts and the Gondola Phase 2 project.

“The initial infrastructure at Gulmarg dates back to the British era, but what we have today is still not sufficient to meet the growing demands of winter sports and tourism,” he stated.

The CM underscored the need to upgrade Gulmarg’s sports facilities, citing examples of Central Asian countries like Uzbekistan, which have developed world-class skiing infrastructure that now attracts international skiers—including those who previously visited Gulmarg.

“If we wish to position ourselves as a global winter sports destination, we must invest in infrastructure enhancement,” he stressed. Speaking about the recent inauguration of the Sonamarg Tunnel by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CM Omar Abdullah described it as a game-changer for tourism and sports in the region. “Sonmarg is now another glorious tourism and sports destination. We also plan to develop skiing facilities there,” he announced.

Looking ahead, the CM envisioned using eco-friendly artificial snow technology to ensure that the Khelo India Winter Games can be held as early as December and January, thereby expanding the winter sports season.

Referring to the assurance given by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to J&K Sports Minister Satish Sharma, CM Omar Abdullah expressed gratitude for any assistance the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports could provide.
He also emphasized that sports infrastructure should not be limited to mainstream games like cricket and football, which require spacious grounds.

“Emerging sports like Pickleball are attracting young players, and these require minimal space. We must diversify our sports infrastructure,” he suggested.
The CM outlined his government’s commitment to developing sports infrastructure in every vi…

[7:35 pm, 12/03/2025] Information &PR, J&K: J&K Excise Department rebuts news on increase in number of Liquor Vends
JAMMU, MARCH 12: The Jammu and Kashmir Excise Department today strongly rebutted the news being circulated on various social media platforms regarding the increase in number of vends (Wine Shops) in Jammu & Kashmir, terming it as fake and baseless.

A communication issued by the department in this regard stated that “As per J&K Excise Policy for the year 2025-26 notified vide SO 38 dated 15th February, 2025, 305 number of vends (Wine Shops) were put to e-auction on 15.02.2025 and after culmination of the bidding process, 271 vends got allotted through the e-auction process (which was conducted by J&K Bank) to the successful H1 bidders and rest of 34 locations are being put to re-auction through Public Notice Issued on 07.03.2025 and bidding process (again to be conducted by the J&K Bank) shall be completed on 17.03.2025 for these 34 vends.”

The document further added that, “It is relevant to mention that the number of JKEL-2 vends (Wine Shops) remained unchanged i.e. 305, since FY 2023-24 and there is no increase in the number of vends, either in Jammu or in Kashmir. The break up of the vends (Wine Shops) is: Jammu-291 and Kashmir – 14).”