Kashmir Inc Sunday said that few inches of snowfall has exposed the administration for its “ill preparedness”. President, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Sheikh Ashiq said despite government’s claims of holding meetings to prepare men and machinery to tackle eventualities, few inches of snow has exposed it and put a question mark on its so-called preparedness meetings.
He said the snowfall is not new thing to Kashmir. “The government has not learn from the past such eventualities,” he said.
He said the KCCI has been demanding laying of underground cables for power transmission since years now, which according to him would have saved crores of rupees in T&D losses and ensured hassle free supply in the winter months. “But the Power Development Department has chosen to waste thousands of crores of rupees in laying of covered cables on transmission poles.”
The results, he said, are out and “it’s time that some accountability was demanded.” “State administration digs wells at the time of fire. Year after year we have to issue the same press statements as the population continues to suffer,” he said. Chairman, Kashmir Economic Alliance, Muhammad Yasin Khan said Kashmir in general and summer capital of Srinagar in particular are reeling under “administrative chaos”.
Khan said while the government “enjoys in the warmth of Jammu”, snow bound Kashmir has been left to “fend for itself as administration is failing to provide even the basic amenities”.
He said the PDD has taken entire Kashmir “hostage as poor power has made lives of people miserable”.
Meanwhile, KCCI in a statement claimed fruit industry has incurred Rs 500 crore loss due to snowfall.
“Preliminary reports received from various fruit associations including Anantnag suggest that losses over Rs 500 crore have been incurred and irreparable damage has been caused to trees, plantations and orchards. We appeal to the whole community to stand behind our brothers in distress and extend support in whatever manner possible,” the statement said. “The avoidable delay in implementation of crop insurance schemes has ensured that our farmers and orchard owners are deprived of any sort of insurance cover which could have proved to be of critical importance at this juncture,” the statement added.