I
Sir,
This refers to editorial ” National Highway passengers stranded ” (Daily Excelsior 9.2.2019) . Because of closure of Jammu Srinagar highway due to fresh snowfall , hundreds of people are stranded in Jammu and are struggling for day today needs. The hotels are charging exorbitantly and many poor stranded passengers are sleeping under open sky at Jammu Bus Stand. Except some local and Kashmiri volunteers who are providing food to these stranded people, Government officials are seen nowhere.
Most of the stranded people had come to meet Governor in delegations like daily wagers , casual labourers, aggrieved farmers etc. They were neither given appointment by Governor’s office nor are they able to go back. Irony is that not even a circular has been issued by Government directing hotel owners not to overcharge from guests. From last one week i am myself in Jammu and visited these stranded people. Except some volunteers from Kashmir and some local youth, I could not see even a Tehsildar or a Patwari deputed by Government to bus stand or JDA parking area near Maharaja Hari Singh Park where hundreds of passengers are struggling.
Most of the people are now penniless and it is the duty of Governor administration to take care of them. Same is the problem in Kashmir valley where many people are stranded but as their number is less they don’t face much problems except truck and taxi drivers who have stuck on the highway around Qazigund
Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat
Jammu
II
Sir,
This is in response to your editorial ‘National Highway Passengers stranded in Jammu’ (DE 9.2.2019) . From last more than 70 years Government has failed to make Srinagar Jammu highway a fair weather road inspite of the fact this road happens to be a National Highway. There are numerous roads in the world which pass through high mountain ranges and witness huge snowfall but the technology and engineering has made these roads so beautiful that distance of hundreds of kms is covered in few hours. The work on Rail Project from Katra to Banihal is also going at snail’s pace.
From last more than a week now thousands of people from Kashmir and other places are stranded in Jammu as highway continues to be closed due to land-slides in Ramban area. On the other hand airfare is all time high as Jammu Srinagar flight charges more than 15000 Rs. Even Governor Satyapal Malik raised this issue during PM Modi’s visit to Srinagar. It is the duty of Government to make airline companies accountable. State Government must take up this issue with Ministry of Civil Aviation and ensure this loot is stopped once for all. The stranded passengers especially old, women and children should be airlifted by Airforce Dakatos on priority basis on concessional rates. Let more and more Airforce places be pressed into service for the same
Shahnawaz Mir
Budgam
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