Page 28 - 15DEC2019E-5

which granted Kashmir autonomy
No tourist visiting within Indian Union. The flight fol-
lowed a government order calling
upon tourists and the pilgrims to the
Paradise on Earth annual Amarnath pilgrimage to cut
down their visit and leave the Valley
within 24 hours. The state Govern-
ment buses were pressed into service
to ferry tourists and pilgrims from
across Kashmir and rush them to Sri-
Hotels, which until August 3 enjoyed 80% nagar airport and bus terminals to facilitate their exit.
occupancy, have turned into ghost houses, Within two days, Kashmir was empty of all the outsiders,
something that has inflicted a crippling blow on the state’s
reports riyaz wani tourism industry during its peak season. More than 340,000
tourists, including an estimated 200,000 yatris on the annual
round 600 shikarahs (boats) moored at over 30 Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage fled the Valley. Hotels which until
ghats along Srinagar’s Dal lake wait endlessly for then enjoyed 80 percent occupancy have turned into ghost
tourists. So do the 900 houseboats anchored to houses, among them premium hotels in famous scenic resorts
other side of the lake. Boatmen while away their of Gulmarg and Pahalgam whose rooms went for as much as
A time on the banks. But there are no tourists in 25000 a night in June and July.
Kashmir Valley who could be expected to visit Dal. “We haven’t However, while two months later, the government lifted the
earned a penny in the past four months,” says Mohammad advisory on the visitors to the Valley, the tourists aren’t coming.
Yaseen Dar, a boatman. “No tourists are visiting the Valley”. The reason for this is that Kashmir remains far from normal.
State Government ordered the tourists to leave Kashmir While traffic plies on the roads and markets open in the morn-
on August 3, two days before New Delhi scrapped Article 370 ing and evening, creating a semblance of normalcy, the Valley

Prolonged denial of internet Commerce and Industries termed the
internet “a basic need”. The trading group
pegged the loss to economy due to con-
makes the Valley restive tinuing shutdown and communication
blockade at around Rs 12000 crore.
“We have urged the government to
The action has not only disconnected the Valley from the rest of restore internet to all the businesses,”
the world but is also taking a huge toll on businesses and education, says Vice president of KCCI Nasir Ahmad
Khan. “Hopefully, the government may
reports riyaz wani listen to our demand and take steps to
release internet to all”.
hen four months ago Responding to this situation, the state But it seems unlikely that the govern-
the government im- government has selectively released ment will restore internet anytime soon.
posed communication broadband service to some business-
blockade in Kashmir men and a few IT companies, but this
W in the wake of repeal has changed nothing on the ground. The
of Article 370 which granted the state overall absence of the internet has dis-
turned union territory a special status rupted life.
within Indian Union, nobody expected it “In this time and age, you can’t have
to last so long. Though along the way the a normal life without internet,” says Ab-
government has restored landlines and dullah Amin, a businessman. “Internet
more recently post paid phones, the SMS, is part of the warp and woof of modern
the prepaid phones and more impor- life. Be it businesses, healthcare, educa-
tantly the internet remain suspended. tion, internet facilitates everything. And
And this has not only disconnected the we are now without this facility for four
Valley from the rest of the world but is months now”.
also taking a huge toll on businesses and Businesses have been worst hit. In a
education. recent statement, Kashmir Chamber of

28