Srinagar, Sep 16 : Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference President and Handwara lawmaker Sajad Lone criticised the administration over the prolonged closure of the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway, saying the issue had caused major losses to the apple industry.
In a post on X, Lone said it takes “hundreds of crores of losses in terms of rotting apples to wake up a wandering CM to actually issue a statement.”
He said the apple industry forms the backbone of Kashmir’s economy, and that an economy already affected by tourism losses is now facing heavy setbacks in horticulture as well.
Lone said that expression of concern from those in power was not enough. “Mere expression of concern from the ruling establishment is a luxury,” he wrote.
He also questioned the role of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in handling the road closure and asked why there was no coordination with local authorities to address the issue.
“What stopped the shawl gifting CM sahib to land in Delhi, meet ministers and ensure expeditious clearance of the highway. Did you even go there. Did you even pretend to be bothered,” Lone asked.
He said that while he could understand the Union Government treating the blockade like any other highway closure, the state administration should have recognised that the situation had a far greater impact on local livelihoods.
“I can understand Union Government treating it like yet another highway closure. But you should have known it is not yet another closure,” he added.
According to growers’ associations, thousands of trucks carrying apples have remained stuck for weeks on the highway, the only all-weather road link connecting the Valley with the rest of the country.
Reports say that losses have already run into hundreds of crores as a significant portion of perishable fruit has rotted in transit.
The Srinagar–Jammu highway has remained closed or partially functional since late August after landslides damaged sections of the road in Udhampur. The disruption has affected transport of horticulture produce, which growers say is critical during the peak harvest season.(KNS).
