Srinagar, Jul 29 (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party on Wednesday expressed concern over repeated disruptions on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway due to landslides and inclement weather, saying the situation was severely affecting the transportation of Kashmir's horticultural produce to markets across the country.
In a statement, the party urged the administration to put in place emergency transport measures to prevent losses to fruit growers during the peak marketing season.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said the administration should treat the disruption as an "economic emergency" rather than merely a traffic management issue.
"Every harvesting season represents a year of patience, investment and hope for our orchardists. Today, many growers are anxiously watching truckloads of their produce remain immobilised because the Valley's road connectivity has been severely affected. The administration must recognise that this is not merely a traffic management issue but an economic emergency," she said.
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Mufti urged the authorities to ensure the timely movement of horticultural produce and consider all safe alternative routes, including the Mughal Road, for suitable commercial vehicles.
The PDP said Kashmir's horticulture sector supports the livelihoods of lakhs of people, including orchard owners, labourers, transporters, commission agents and packaging workers, and warned that prolonged disruption in the supply chain could inflict heavy losses on the rural economy.
The party called for a dedicated operational framework involving the traffic police, civil administration and transport authorities to facilitate the movement of perishable fruit consignments whenever road conditions permit.
It also urged the administration to expand disaster management efforts beyond restoring road connectivity by protecting the livelihoods of those affected and ensuring growers do not suffer avoidable financial losses due to circumstances beyond their control.(KNS).