SRINAGAR: The Kashmir valley is facing acuteshortage of essentials, particularly fresh vegetables, followingthe closure of Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only roadlinking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country. There is also shortage of meat and chicken in the valley,which mainly depend upon imports from different northern statesof the country, particularly Punjab, Haryana, Delhi andRajasthan. Hundreds of vehicles, including trucks carrying vegetables andother essentials for the Kashmir valley are stranded on thehighway and at Jammu and Udhampur for the past about one week. Though one-way traffic was allowed on the highway before itwas closed again from Friday last afternoon, when only LightMotor Vehicles (LMVs) were allowed from Srinagar to Jammu.
Majority vegetable shops are closed or selling onion,tomato and potato besides some vegetables, including wildproducts.
However, if fresh vegetables are available at some places,their price was out of reach of a common person. Hundreds of trucks, carrying essentials, particularlyvegetables are stranded at Jammu, Udhampur and Batote area on thehighway, which was closed yet again from yesterday afternoonfollowing landslides. We have not received fresh vegetables from Jammu for the pastabout two weeks due to frequent closure of the highway, thoseconnected with the trade said adding trucks, carrying essentialsare not being allowed even if the highway is open for one-way. This has not only led to major shortage of fresh vegetables,but we also suffered heavy losses, they said adding the vegetablegets damaged in trucks. We totally depend upon imports of vegetables, meat and chickenfrom different parts of the country during winter when no localvegetable is available. Sheeps and goats besides chicken and eggs worth severalthousand crore of rupees are imported annually for localconsumption which increase during marriage season and festivals.
Late snowfall and rain had affected local vegetable crops,forcing people to use dried vegetables and pulses again. A kg of tomato now costs Rs 50 against Rs 20 earlier, bean Rs90 to Rs 100 against earlier Rs 30 and Rs 40. Local green vegetable “Hak” also costs Rs 80 to Rs 90 per kgagainst Rs 30 to Rs 40 earlier. Majority meat and chicken shops remained closed in the city.UNI
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