Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism, and public and private sector undertakings have suffered enormous losses due to the six-week-old unrest in the Valley.
Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism, and public and private sector undertakings have suffered enormous losses due to the six-week-old unrest in the Valley.
The statistics released by the state’s industries and commerce and tourism departments on Friday point out to both revenue and production shortfalls. The net revenue losses of various public sector undertakings in the Valley alone has accumulated to Rs 9.07 crores, with accumulated turnover and production deficit of approximately Rs 123 crores. Likewise, the estimated net revenue losses suffered by the private sector during the last 42 days have accumulated to Rs 286.44 crores with turnover and production losses accumulating to Rs 1,911 crores.
Commissioner, secretary industries and commerce Shailendra Kumar, who chaired a review meeting here said that the unrest is taking a heavy toll on the revenue of different PSUs of the state government as well as that of private industry in Kashmir. Also some Jammu-based small-scale industrial units have suffered production losses due to the turmoil in the Valley.
“As per information gathered, revenue losses suffered by Jammu-based SSI units works out to the tune of Rs 90 crore with turnover losses of Rs 600 crores,” he said.
At a separate meeting convened by secretary tourism Farooq Ahmed Shah, the officials said that the tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir, which was all set to receive record number of tourists this season, is now witnessing a lull, especially in Kashmir Valley due to the unrest. The meeting was told that year 2015 had witnessed the resurgence of tourism in Kashmir Valley after vigorous promotional campaign.
A comprehensive publicity plan encompassing new destinations and tourism products envisaged by the Tourism department was also in the process of being showcased and all preparations were ready in this regard, they said.
However, following massive protests and clashes in the aftermath of militant commander Burhan Wani’s killing on July 8 the daily arrivals of tourists by air and road came down to a few hundred from 10,000-12,000. “The cancellations have affected hoteliers, houseboat owners, airlines and other tourism stakeholders across the Valley,” said the officials. “Further, many Bollywood shootings of big and middle budget films have been cancelled and these banners have moved their shootings to Himachal Pradesh. Likewise the tourists intending to come to Kashmir have also opted for HP and other neighbouring destinations,” a statement issued by the government here said.
