[Reader-list] The Reality of Economic Blocade in Kashmir

[Pawan Durani]

http://www.newspostonline.com/national/truck-drivers-nullify-claims-of-kashmir-valley-economic-blockade-200808141637

Truck drivers have nullified claims of an economic blockade in the Kashmir
Valley, saying that traffic is moving smoothly on the
Lakhanpur-Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
Traffic is also moving smoothly on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

Supplies of essential commodities are getting normalised in Jammu and
Kashmir. The movement of apples from the Kashmir Valley to various markets
across the country is also picking up, official sources claimed.

The Srinagar-Jammu- Lakhanpur National Highway has been fully sanitized and
round the clock traffic movement is being ensured.

According to official sources, for the past 12 days over 9,000 trucks
carrying fruit, merchandised medicine, petroleum products, LPG cylinders and
other essential commodities have been transported from both sides.

The truck drivers said that with the army personnel deployed on the highway,
they were plying their vehicles fearlessly.

"Now it is all fine, there is no blockade, we are not facing any problem and
the traffic is running smoothly. There are army personnel and police
deployed everywhere, they are helping us out.  The Government has made all
arrangement to make the situation normal," said Kulwant Singh, a truck
driver.

Among 2600 trucks that had entered the state during past four days, 1137
have arrived in the Valley.

"Our trucks are plying normally, the trucks are coming in and going out of
the state, there is no problem now," said Khushwant Singh, another truck
driver.

The State Government has taken many steps to instill confidence among the
truck drivers and the locals in an attempt to restore normalcy. Efforts are
being made to bring back peace to the region. Authorities said the markets
across the country are eagerly waiting for their stock of Kashmiri apples.

Meanwhile, truck drivers in national capital's wholesale fruit and vegetable
market, Azadpur Mandi, said that the market is abuzz with activity and the
deployment of army along the strategic highway is helping them.

"Army personnel are deployed there and they are helping us a lot, even the
police force is helping us," said Raju Rai Singh, a truck driver.

Supplies to and from the state, especially the Kashmir valley were affected
due to the protests and violence in Jammu region after the State Government
revoked its order to transfer forestland to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.
(ANI)