Expressing serious concern over the continuous closure of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Vice President and former MLC G N Monga today questioned the preparedness of the administration in dealing with the crisis arising out of the highway closure in the Valley.
He said the highway has remained blocked for the most of the days in January due to which there has been acute shortage of essential commodities, like vegetables, LPG and petroleum products in Kashmir.
“Now it is being told that the highway may remain closed for 10 more days. What was the administration doing when they knew such a situation can arise? Why did they make alternate arrangements to ensure that the road remains open for supplies,” Monga asked.
The Congress leader said that the administration has miserably failed in handling the highway crisis and has left thousands of people stranded on either side of the highway in lurch. “The continuous closure of the national highway has triggered a crisis like situation in Kashmir and on the highway with stranded people finding it difficult to withstand bone chilling cold,” he rued.
The Congress leader said nearly eight million population in Kashmir which is dependent on the highway has been left to fend for themselves by the administration which is unfortunate.
“The weather department had already forecast heavy snowfall, but the administration took it for granted. Now with the collapse of a bridge near Ramban, things have worsened, but the administration is ill prepared for such a challenge,” he said and asked the government to come up with a concrete plan to restore the highway.
The Congress leader added that the unscheduled power cuts and shortage of drinking water in this bone chilling winter has only added to the woes of the common people in Kashmir. “The administration must be made responsible towards the people,” he demanded.
