- PDP president raises concerns over tourism closures, LPG shortage and daily wagers
SRINAGAR, Apr 1: Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to reopen tourist destinations that continue to remain closed after last year’s terror attack in Pahalgam, saying the restrictions are severely affecting the livelihoods of local residents in south Kashmir.
During her visit to Anantnag district, Mufti said several delegations met her and highlighted the growing difficulties being faced by people due to the continued closure of a number of tourist locations, particularly in and around Pahalgam. She said concerns were especially raised over the closure of Chandanwari and the Bijbehara-Langanbal route, an area where many private resorts and tourism-related establishments have come up over the years.
Addressing reporters, the PDP chief said the closure of the Bijbehara-Langanbal road has dealt a blow to those who invested substantial amounts in building resorts and tourism infrastructure in the area. She urged the Lieutenant Governor to reopen the route while ensuring adequate security arrangements, so that local stakeholders can resume their activities and recover their livelihoods.
Mehbooba Mufti also said that the continued closure of places such as Baisaran and Chandanwari in Pahalgam has adversely impacted pony wallahs and others directly dependent on tourism for survival. She said an unfortunate terror incident did take place in Baisaran, but maintained that it should not result in prolonged restrictions across wider parts of Kashmir at the cost of ordinary people’s livelihoods. She appealed to the administration to take a balanced view of the situation and reopen the affected destinations with necessary safeguards in place.
On April 22 last year, terrorists attacked tourists in Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, leaving 25 tourists and a local ponywala dead. In the aftermath of the attack, several tourist destinations were closed as part of heightened security measures. Although many of these places were gradually reopened over time, some locations are still shut.
Apart from tourism-related concerns, the PDP president also raised the issue of LPG supply, claiming that despite official assertions, people on the ground were facing a shortage. She said the situation needed immediate attention so that the public does not suffer further inconvenience.
Mufti also spoke about the issue of daily wagers, saying a large number of such workers continue to wait for regularisation despite years of service. She pointed out that many of them are nearing retirement age and expressed hope that the government would take a considerate view and address their long-pending demand for regularisation.