Hundreds of trucks carrying livestock and eatables, which had been halted by traffic authorities along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway for the past one week, reached Valley markets, providing relief to the common people and traders.
The authorities allowed the movement of trucks towardsKashmir, a day after fruit, vegetable and mutton dealers threatened to suspendbusiness if the movement of freight transport was not restored by 29 April.They have now called the strike off temporarily.
But Mehraj-ud-din Ganai, general secretary All KashmirWholesale Mutton Dealers Association said mutton dealers have called off thestrike “for the time being”.
Ganai said 250 trucks laden with sheep reached various partsof the Valley on Thursday and much of the stock will go to weddings.
He said that since the trucks were stranded for a week, manysheep succumbed to inclement weather, causing Rs 6 crore in losses.
“We will wait andwatch the situation and hope the government allows movement of trucks onhighway on priority basis.
If the forced stoppage of trucks happens again we will haveto take extreme measures then,” Ganai said.
Restoration of essential services, especially muttonsupplies to the Valley has come as a relief for hundreds of families that haveweddings scheduled for the next 10 days till the beginning of Ramadan. Severalfamilies had modified wedding plans in the wake of mutton shortage.
President of Parimpora fruit mandi Bashir Ahmad Basheer saidabout 200 truckloads of vegetables and fruits reached Srinagar. He added that alot of the perishables that reached the mandi on Thursday were rotten.
“We met the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir today. Heassured us that supplies of essentials will be accorded priority. Theauthorities must realize the quantum of losses suffered by us,” Basheer said.
Director CAPD Muhammad Qasim Wani said shortage of muttonand other essentials would be overcome with the arrival of the goods trucks.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and working closelywith other allied departments,” Wani said.