6th anniversary of catastrophic floods

Government’s promises to revive businesses only on papers: KTA

Srinagar: On the sixth anniversary of the catastrophic floods in the Valley in 2014, the Kashmir Trade Alliance said that the decline in trade activities in Kashmir and the deterioration in the economy which started at that time has not stopped in 2020.
Ajaz Shahdharr, president of the Trade Alliance, said that the catastrophic floods of 2014 had caused a loss of nearly Rs 1,000 crore to the valley’s economy, and that the floods had dealt a major blow to business and commerce.
Shahdhar said “ after 2014, trade and the economy were hit hard again and again, due to which Kashmiri traders, businessmen, industrialists, transporters and contractors as well as tourism got affected”. He said that the hopes of the then state and central government for reviving trade were dashed, and even after six years, it was not enough to revive traders and business.
“No comprehensive package was announced and no other relief was given”. He said. The President Kashmir Trade Alliance said that the relief claims were limited to papers, and if given, it was like cumin in a camel’s mouth. Shahdhar said that not only this but also the situation of the following years and then the situation after 5th August 2019 and now Covid 19 lockdown for the last 6 months has broken the backs of Kashmiri traders, shopkeepers and businessmen.
Shahdhar said “No serious steps are being taken to get the traders out of this whirlpool”. He hoped that the administration headed by the Lieutenant Governor and the Central Government would make a solid and serious effort to revive business in Kashmir. Meanwhile, he also advocated to allow business activities to continue for seven days a week, saying that the purchasing power of the Valley’s buyers drastically decreased, advocating for a full week of business resumption immediately.