“Shutting down of Jammu-Srinagar highway is not only a worry for the travellers but it is much bigger worry for the entire population of Kashmir”
Despite completion of the major portion of four lane Jammu-Srinagar highway and operation of train services on Sangaldan-Baramulla rail link reducing the Jammu-Srinagar travel times by one half the landslide induced blockades on Srinagar highway continue to cut the supply lines to Kashmir valley for days together. Experiences show that shutting down of Jammu-Srinagar highway is not only a worry for the travellers but it is much bigger worry for the entire population of Kashmir bearing the brunt of shortage of fuel, ration, fruits, vegetables, domestic LPG cylinders and whatnot in weather induced crisis situation. Tall claims of the Government do not withstand the pressures of uncertainty, chaos and confusion triggered by the shortage of fuel, LPG cylinders, vegetables and other essential commodities besides deaths of travellers in fatal road accidents. It does not happen just today but it has been happening for last more than seven decades. Regimes come and go but there is no end to rising public outcry against shortage of supplies more during mid winter periods than the first half of the summer period from March till April end. The recent snowfall and heavy rains that triggered landslides on major highways particularly Jammu-Srinagar highway resulted in deaths of some travellers besides triggering huge shortage of essential commodities and consequently huge spike in prices of vegetables and fruits markets of Kashmir Valley. With Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS$CA)Department having suspended market checking activities for more than one and a half year now there is no prescribed authority to take public complaints against black marketers and hoarders in both Kashmir Valley and as well as Jammu division.
“Forgetting all about public inconveniences days after clearance of landslides on Jammu-Srinagar highway only to see such huge public inconveniences occurring and re-occurring week after week or month after month the Government shows only its lackadaisical approach towards the fears of accidental deaths on Jammu-Srinagar highway and shortage of essentials in landslide induced crisis in Kashmir Valley. After all it is for the Government to take corrective measures for the causes of reducing the landslide induced traffic blockades on Jammu-Srinagar, maintaining the supply of essential commodities and regulating their prices during weather induced crisis situation in Kashmir Valley.”
A full fledged public grievances department headed by full fledged administrative secretary but it has no powers to take complaints on weather induced public inconveniences either in Kashmir or Jammu division. Henceforth Government committed to take care of consumer rights is yet to designate an authority for taking complaints on black-marketing, hoarding and unauthorised rise in the prices of essential commodities. With restoration of traffic after clearance of landslides on Jammu-Srinagar highway the divisional administration in Kashmir forgets all about the complaints of shortage in supplies of essential commodities and huge spike in their prices. Forgetting all about public inconveniences days after clearance of landslides on Jammu-Srinagar highway only to see such huge public inconveniences occurring and re-occurring week after week or month after month the Government shows only its lackadaisical approach towards the fears of accidental deaths on Jammu-Srinagar highway and shortage of essentials in landslide induced crisis in Kashmir Valley. After all it is for the Government to take corrective measures for the causes of reducing the landslide induced traffic blockades on Jammu-Srinagar, maintaining the supply of essential commodities and regulating their prices during weather induced crisis situation in Kashmir Valley.
