Highway ban to incur huge losses on Kashmir economy: KCCI

Calling the government order – banning of civilian movement on Srinagar-Jammu highway for two days a week – “ill-conceived and bereft of logic”, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) on Monday said that it will have huge impact on the economy of valley and demanded immediate revocation of the decision. 

While addressing a press conference here, president of KCCI,Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad said the implementation of the order has caused irreparablelosses to the economy especially tourism and horticulture, considering ongoingseason witnesses brisk activity for both the sectors.

   

“Business establishments and offices along the highway havebeen forcibly closed as a consequence of the ban. Normal life has beendisrupted. The present condition of the highway prevents it from catering tothe volume of normal traffic. It is frequently closed or only one way trafficallowed. The distance of around 270 km takes 15-20 hours. Reducing two days ina week will add to the existing chaos,” said Ashiq.

He said the order has created tension and anxiety among thecommon people and there is every possibility of the “situation getting out ofcontrol” if the order was not revoked.

“Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry once again urgesthe Governor to reconsider, in public interest, the decision of banningcivilian movement,” he said.

Ashiq said huge losses are suffered due to impact of thehighway ban by the sectors such as retail, transport, livestock, horticulture,tourism and other commercial activities. Ashiq said KCCI received severaldistress calls from commuters and traders on Sunday when the highway was closeddown for civilian traffic adding that both “imports of goods and export ofapples suffered losses due to the restrictions”.

“This seems to be the darkest era of governance in theValley which is making our import and export suffers the losses. All thesectors, from day-to-day trade to livestock, tourism and horticulture are amongbiggest victims of this ban and we have been getting calls from peopleassociated with various sectors intimating us of the scale of losses,” Ashiqsaid.

Ashiq said the chamber has sought a meeting with GovernorSatya Pal Malik during which it will apprise him of the losses suffered due tothe highway ban.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

5 + 4 =