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| If winter comes, can spring be far behind? | | Severity of longer winter, heavy snowfall harbinger of good tourism, crops | | Early Times Special Correspondent
Jammu | Feb 15
News Analysis
The unusual heavy snowfall for a period spread over hundred days and longer severe winter this year is not an unmixed bag. With the trauma and hardships suffered by the people in the valley and hilly areas of Jammu region to be over soon, Swill in the long run lead to healthy prospects of fillip to winter tourism in the valley as well as at Patnitop, Nathatop and Sanasur in Jammu region. The snowfall this year, which had its first shower in mid November did fall in abundance till the first weak of February, in the process leading to settling of thick layer of snow, giving boost to the prospects of snow skiing, sledging and other winter games in the snow bound areas. The Deputy Chief Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Baig who is also minister incharge tourism, has been on tourists winning spree in various parts of the country, luring the adventure lovers and those who are fond of playing games on the snow bound hills, to avail of the heavy snow accumulated in the mountains. It is but all expected that late February and early March will attract a good number of adventure tourists to Kashmir valley.
With thick layer of snow settled in the hilly areas, melting with the sunshine in the latter months are also harbinger of economic prosperity to the state. The electric power generation is also predicted to get boost, with rivers having plenty of water and not going dry early, with snow estimated to go on melting in the summer months. The irrigation canals taken out from the rivers are also believed to maintain good flow of water and not get dry and hence providing better irrigation, leading to bumper crop. Above all it is the horticulture particularly the apple crop, which is expected to witness bumper yield this year. In view of bumper and quality apple crop expected this year, the apple growers are all smiles. A good snowfall over a stretch of quite long time has proved to be a boon for the apple crop.
As the farmers call it the white manure (snow) has not only provided the required chill to the apple crop in the dormancy stage for regular flowering, but it is also all set to take care of certain diseases that hit apple plants in the event of deficient moisture in the soil, according to experts in agriculture and horticulture. This year the apple crop is expected to have an edge as there has been a continuous chill since November and it snowed at a stretch in December and then for a few days in the first week of February. There has been much snow after a long time. We expect good crop in the upper as well as lower reaches of apple producing belt, the horticulturists claim. "We only require to put hail nets later to protect the crop from hail storm if any takes place. But there is little worry on this count as well since generally whenever the snow is good there is lesser possibility of weather odds, including hail storms in the season ahead", say the experts in the horticulture field.
The devastation brought about by the heavy snow and severe winter is also going to prove boon for the unscrupulous elements in the administration, who are always out to make good of the misfortune and sufferings of the common man either due to natural calamity or man made sufferings. As was the case with relief and rehabilitation operations in the wake of earthquake of October 8 2005, when the corrupt official machinery made the hey while the sun was shining. As is reported by the CAG a big chunk of the Central assistance for the earthquake victims was misappropriated and a huge wasteful expenditure was incurred to serve the vested interest of the corrupt elements in the administration. In the wake of heavy losses estimated in unprecedented heavy snowfall and severe cold, accompanied with avalanches, the centre is all set to give liberal assistance to the state for distribution among the victims as well as to spend on various projects to restore the damaged infrastructure. It will be particularly so in view of assembly elections scheduled to be held September---October this year. If siphoning of funds by the corrupt in the administration in the past is any guide, these elements are going to have the hay days. |
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