SRINAGAR, MAR 09 : Expressing concern over frequent closure of the Kashmir highway, the Kashmir Economic Alliance on Saturday said that the pathetic condition of the highway, only road link to outside world, has become a means of taking Kashmir and its people hostage.
In a statement, the chairperson of KEA Muhammad Yasin Khan said that over seven million souls living in Kashmir have been left at the mercy of landslides disrupting the highway only because alternative links to Kashmir including the need to make Mughal Road an all-seasons connectivity have not been explored even after 70 years.
Khan said that while the rest of the world is getting benefited through advancement of technology, the Srinagar Jammu highway has taken a reverse gear.
“In the last three months, the highway remained closed for over three dozen times which is something alarming and has thus badly affected normal life and economic activities in the region,” Khan said.
He said not any bad weather but the reportedly faulty execution of the highway widening between Banihal and Ramban was a main reason of the frequent highway blockade.
He said the travel down the highway has become a horrific experience. “In the last three months, not a single vehicle may have traversed the highway undamaged, while the escape of passengers from landslides and shooting stones is not less than a miracle,” he said.
He said the while the common people were suffering unheard, the transportation of the goods has equally affected lives of common people.
“Apples that were being transported outside the valley have been rotting due to frequent blockade while same holds true for import of perishable commodities like fruits and vegetables, and even livestock that die in bulk before entering Kashmir and as a result business community is suffering huge losses running into crores,” Khan said.
He said given the fact that the highway widening and traffic regulation has to be maintained by multiple agencies including Beacon, Traffic Police, Div Comms of Kashmir and Jammu and others, ideally Governor should have asked the Chief Secretary to personally look into the matter and evolve a proper mechanism in coordination with the stake holders.
“But even as Kashmir has been facing crises including shortage of essentials including fuel and cooking gas, the government is unmoved,” Khan said.
“What we have learnt is that perishable items and fuel is made to halt and construction material is being transported on priority.”
Maintaining that silence of the Raj Bhawan on this issue of critical importance has only added to public woes, he appealed New Delhi and Governor SP Malik to look into the matter. (PTK)