Mr. Javed Ahmad Tenga, President Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry expressed serious concern at the reported proposal of opening a wine shop at the Srinagar Airport. The KCC&I condemns the proposal in all forms and urges the State Government to take all measures to preserve and protect the unique culture of the State.
Mr. Javed Ahmad Tenga further stated that the abrupt deterioration in the power supply in Kashmir and the unilateral announcement of a harsh power curtailment schedule by the Power Development Department with the shifting of the offices to Jammu spoke volumes of the extremely derogatory attitude displayed by the Department towards the public of this region. He said that the KCC&I would be taking up the issue in the strongest possible manner with the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) as it violated the rights of the consumers and the rules of the Commission but at present the SERC also has been rendered defunct as no Chairman or members have been nominated after the retirement of the previous ones. Therefore the State Government is urged to intervene by directing the Power Development Department to adhere to the norms and also to nominate members and Chairperson to head the SERC so that the only redressal system is put in place.
Mr. Javed Ahmad Tenga also expressed concern over the state of the 250-300 km National Highway from Jammu to Srinagar which has become notorious for all the wrong reasons. He said that we have received various complaints of harassment of goods vehicles by the Traffic/Regular Authorities at various points on the highway resulting in transporters being reluctant to ply on this route. In addition, the private and public vehicles are put through unnecessary inconvenience because of bottlenecks created at Lower Munda, Chenani-Nashri Tunnel and Nagrota. He stated the very purpose of the Chenani-Nashritunnel which reduced the distance by 30 kms has been defeated by the sheer mismanagement at the tunnel. Hours are wasted at the tunnel because of the ill-conceived system of toll collection. Keeping in view that the highway is the only road link of Kashmir Valley, the State Government should undertake all measures to ensure that all bottlenecks to smooth travel are eliminated.