JK economy loses Rs 4500 Cr in disturbances
after Guru’s hanging
Srinagar, Mar
28: Jammu and Kashmir's economy has taken a hit from the rash of strike calls
given by separatists groups and curfew in the Valley in the aftermath of the
hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal
Guru with the industry pegging the loss at an estimated Rs 4,500 crore. Tourism
and handicrafts sectors--the pivots of state’s economy--were the worst hit due
to disturbances in normal life due to strike calls and curfew over a period of
26 days since the hanging of Guru on February 9 in Delhi 's Tihar jail. The business community of
Kashmir claims that it lost Rs 175 to Rs 200
crore in sales every day, be it due to strike called by separatists or curfew
clamped by authorities.
"The
business community alone bears the brunt of the shutdowns in Kashmir .
Besides losing an opportunity to earn, we are losing money due to overhead
expenses, bank interest and employees’ wages," President of Kashmir
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Abdul Hamid Punjabi said.
He
and other officials estimate that the loss to the economy so far could be to
the tune of Rs 4,500 crore. “On an average, a profit of Rs 10 crore is made
each day on sales,” they said. Since the execution of Guru on February 9,
authorities imposed curfew as a precautionary measure to maintain law and
order. Out of the days lost, separatists have given strike calls for 13 days to
demand return of mortal remains of Guru to his family. Punjabi said tourism and
handicrafts sectors were the worst hit.
"Hoteliers and people associated with
tourism industry like houseboat owners, taxi operators and travel agents suffer
the most. More than two lakh people are directly earning livelihood from this
sector alone," he said.
He said the
handicrafts sector alone brings in revenue to the tune of Rs 1,700 crore every
year but in the absence of tourists--the most likely buyers of these products
in Kashmir , this sector also takes a big hit. Kashmir witnessed two peaceful years in 2011 and 2012
with an estimated 20 lakh tourists and pilgrims visiting the Valley last year
alone, surpassing all previous records. The peace in the valley had generated
hopes of even a better tourism season this year as many businessmen had
invested in creating new infrastructure like constructing new hotels to cater
to the rising influx. However, many of them have are keeping their fingers
crossed as they are not sure how the rest of the year will pan out. "I was planning to construct a 30-room
hotel in the city as Kashmir was witnessing
tourism boom for the last couple of years. However, I have delayed the start of
construction due to the situation developing in the Valley at the moment,"
Mohammad Arshad, a handicrafts dealer, said.
He said he wanted to diversify his business and had
purchased land last year in December in the hope of starting his project in
March this year. The loss to the economy also had a cascading effect with a
senior official in the state’s Finance department saying a shutdown in 
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