Early Times Report
JAMMU, Sept 19: Vikram Puri, Chairman of the Trade and Commerce body of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, has issued a strong appeal to the Central Government and the Lieutenant Governor of J&K to act urgently in the wake of the devastating floods that have crippled the region's economy.
In a media interview, Shri Puri said the collapse of the Tawi bridge stands as a grim reminder of the fragile state of infrastructure. He urged its immediate reconstruction along with rapid restoration of damaged roads, power, and public assets. "Connectivity is our lifeline. Without it, trade, industry, and daily life come to a standstill," he stressed.
He pointed out that the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway closure for days stranded thousands of trucks carrying essentials and fruit, causing losses running into crores. Horticulture, particularly apples, and pears, has suffered massive damage, while paddy fields have been washed away, leaving farmers devastated. Local communities, as well as Gujjar and Bakarwal families, he said, have lost livestock, their only livelihood and need urgent compensation. Traders and households too have lost food stocks and storage facilities, worsening the crisis.
Highlighting another critical issue, Shri Puri noted that water supply systems collapsed in large parts of Jammu during the floods due to old and damaged pipelines. "This is a wake-up call. We need immediate replacement of outdated pipelines, better flood-control measures in low-lying areas, and backup systems to ensure safe drinking water in times of disaster," he said.
On the industrial front, Shri Puri demanded a revival package for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), including restructuring of loans, rationalization of electricity tariffs, and marketing support local industries to promote local products nationally. He also criticized the repeated exclusion of Jammu from Parliamentary committee visits, despite being home to most industrial units in the UT.
Appealing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, Shri Puri said: "Flood-hit families, farmers, Gujjars, traders, and industries cannot wait. Relief must be immediate, compensation must be transparent, and infrastructure rebuilding must begin without delay."
Concluding, he reminded that while the people of J&K have always shown resilience, "Resilience must be matched with responsi |
