The shortage of essentials in Kashmir valley triggered by the closure of Srinagar-Jammu after collapse of a bridge near Ramban is though intensifying and as such deserving immediate of the government, but Kashmir valley’s divisional administration is trying to hide its failures through half hearted assurances. The half hearted measures claimed to have been taken by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Director Consumer Affairs, Food & Civil Supplies (Kashmir) and Deputy Commissioners of valley districts have failed to improve stock and supply position even after the restoration of traffic on Kashmir highway just two days back. Unfortunately the government does not bother to even share its plan of action required to ensure free availability of essentials particularly petrol, diesel, LPG cooking cylinders, rations and medical supplies in hospitals in the chilly months of winter. The essential supplies can’t be restored by half hearted measures but by a process of fast track transportation of essentials from Jammu and other parts of the country to Kashmir valley and their free availability in the markets in Srinagar and other districts of Kashmir valley. The scarcity of essentials in the wake of frequent traffic blockades on Jammu-Srinagar highway due to recent collapse of a bridge near Ramban has consequentially become an issue of anxiety for the people in Kashmir valley. A close supervision on the transportation of essentials and their availability in the markets are the only appropriate ways to get to the bottom of the crisis intensifying day after day in Srinagar and other districts of Kashmir valley.
Measures required to restore the faith of people in the delivery of essentials at the retail outlets and reduce the increasing anxiety among people in Kashmir valley are yet to be implemented on ground. Since the people of Kashmir are already facing a hostile environment in view of the frequent suspension of traffic witnessed on Kashmir highway even before collapse of a bridge near Ramban , the administrative and political wisdom does not demand that people are left to fend for themselves. The government has to keep in mind the possibility of more traffic disruptions on Jammu-Srinagar highway which frequently disrupts the transportation of essentials to Kashmir valley as the possibility of highway becoming more vulnerable to frequent closures due to snowing in the coming weeks of winter can increase the intensity of the scarcity of essentials in Kashmir valley. It is the institutional, moral and administrative responsibility of the government to deal with the current crisis in Kashmir with the spirit of public accountability.
