Government of India has said that the ban on civilian traffic on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway in run up to the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year adversely affected supply of essential commodities to Kashmir.
In a written response to a question by National ConferenceMP Hasnain Masoodi, the Union Minister of Consumer Affairs and Publicdistribution Danve Raosaheb Dadarao told Lok Sabha that the order which keptthe highway dedicated for movement of security forces convoys two days everyweek – Sunday and Wednesday – “adversely affected supply of essentialcommodities, including supply of Food Corporation of India food grains, to theValley during these months,” reads the Minister’s reply.
The state Home Department order banned civilian trafficmovement on the highway, between Baramulla and Udhampur, from 4 am to 5 pm onSundays and Wednesdays, from April 1 till May 31, to enable increased movementof security forces before and during Lok Sabha elections. However, the banorder was revoked in phased- manner.
The decision was taken after 14 February Pulwama attackwhich left 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) men dead.
The Union Minister’s reply further stated that weathersituation, and other problems also hamper movement of essential commodities tothe Valley. “Due to snow/rain, landslides, bandhs called by variousorganizations and imposition of curfew etc, the movement of food grain stocksto Kashmir gets hit.”
The latest official figures have revealed that J&Kimported goods and raw material worth Rs 58,050 crore in 2017-18, of which 60%of the goods worth Rs 34,800 core – was imported to Kashmir division.
The Logistics Ease across Different States (LEADS) Index hasgiven only one index point to J&K, placing it at the bottom of the list ofstates having “worst logistic” connectivity in India.
The union minister in its reply goes on to say that themonthly requirement of food grains to J&K was 6259O.O9O MT.
“Also no lapse in meeting up the allocation has beenreported to this office. Continuous effort to step up the induction of foodgrains in J&K has enabled Government of lndia to increase the stockposition of the State from release of sufficient stocks under variousGovernment schemes,” the reply reads.