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SRINAGAR: People’s Democratic Front (PDF) President and former Minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen today expressed deep concern over the frequent closure of the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway, stating that it has badly hit the economy of Kashmir, particularly the horticulture sector.
He said it is unfortunate that despite the highway being known for frequent disruptions, successive governments have failed to put in place a long-term and concrete plan to address the crisis. Yaseen said those who are crying today for the restoration of the highway had enough time and power in the past but failed to deliver.
“Had the governments constructed sufficient cold storage and preservation facilities in the Valley, fruit growers and traders would not have been facing these recurring losses year after year. It is a shame that despite crores being spent under various schemes, only a handful of cold storage units have been established so far, which are insufficient to cater to the Valley’s requirements,” he remarked.
He said that horticulture is the backbone of the Kashmir economy and provides livelihood to lakhs of families, yet the sector has remained neglected. “Every time the highway is closed, fruit-laden trucks are stranded for days, resulting in rotting of perishable produce and losses worth crores of rupees. The closing of the highway due to landslides and floods is a natural process, but the lack of alternative routes, storage facilities, and disaster preparedness is a man-made failure,” Yaseen observed.
Calling out the government, Yaseen said there is none among the rulers who has taken serious steps to resolve the crisis. “Instead of addressing the concerns, the political class is busy with hollow slogans. The restoration of alternative roads and the creation of buffer storage facilities should have been the priority of every government, but unfortunately no such vision was ever implemented,” he added.
The PDF President said that crores of losses could have been averted if successive governments had prioritized infrastructure development and long-term planning. “It is not enough to express sympathy with the affected farmers and traders. Those who suffer due to highway closures or floods must be compensated adequately and without delay. So far, neither the Union Government nor the UT administration has put in place a proper compensation mechanism. The result is that farmers are left to suffer in silence,” Yaseen said.
He further stated that horticulture, being the single largest economic activity of Kashmir, deserves focused attention from policymakers. “Farmers toil day and night to produce quality apples and other fruits. If their produce cannot reach markets on time, the entire year’s hard work goes waste. This has created despair and hopelessness among the farming community,” he added.
“Blaming others will not help. Governments, past and present, have failed the people of Kashmir by not addressing this crucial issue. It is high time that the matter is treated on priority, as thousands of families are directly dependent on the horticulture sector for their survival,” Yaseen said. He urged the administration to wake up to the gravity of the situation and adopt a farmer-centric approach. “If urgent measures are not taken, not only the fruit industry but the entire economy of Kashmir will suffer irreparable damage,” he warned.
