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Tourism becomes first casualty of trouble
JK economy takes a nosedive: Rs 6500 crore loss due to strikes
7/12/2010 1:25:31 AM
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, July 11: A spate of strikes and protests in Jammu and Kashmir has cost the state Rs 6,500 crore so far this year.Every day of shutdown or curfew is denying the administration Rs 161 crore in revenue, as per the estimates.
Post militancy era, even as all successive governments in the state have been trying hard to bank on biggest revenue generating industry-the tourism and embarked on several initiatives to enliven it. However, the observers feel the resurgent tourism industry may wind up as the silent victim of separatist activities in the state, as tourist arrivals falling sharply in the past few weeks. The Valley was buzzing with tourists and hotel rooms were booked\ sold out till August 7.
Although agriculture and animal husbandry drive the state's economy, a beating taken by the tourism industry is sure to act as a drag on allied sectors such as handicrafts, handloom and transport apparently due to decline in arrival of tourists who attribute strengthening of each one of these allied sectors. Kashmir continues to be all time favourite place for holiday purpose for people from far and wide. Though the initial years of militancy and the situation thereafter for some years An estimated 15 to 20 lakh vacationists were expected to arrive in Srinagar this year and tourist inflow - both domestic and foreign - touched six lakh in the first six months. However, the scene is different today and tourism appears to have become the first casualty, feel officials.
Senior state finance ministry officials say the state has an average pay bill of Rs 25 crore per day, of which 60 per cent -- Rs 15 crore -- comes from the Kashmir Valley. "We can broadly calculate the loss to economy per day on pay bill; General State Domestic Product is Rs 35,000 crore per annum and trading and bank credit Rs 17,000 crore per annum. The figure approximately works upto Rs 161 crore per day," said a senior finance ministry official.
During this year, separatists gave strike calls for 35 days in all and the Kashmir Valley remained under curfew for five days. The tentative loss is being pegged at Rs 6,440 crore and the figures may go up only, said the official.
The general mood among the people in the state is that their economy is seeing a downturn and officials see a concerted effort being made to disturb the tourism industry, which would further lead to deterioration in people's income and result in more citizens taking to the streets at the behest of separatists.
"You see when shikarawalas, taxi drivers, small shops selling handicrafts are left jobless because of continued disturbance, they will jump on to the streets...now this anger is misconstrued as joining hands with separatists," says a senior tourism ministry official. However, it is for the common people to help restore normalcy and order as early as possible. It is upto people connected with varied segments of tourism sector in Kashmir…..they must realize it is the only season that enables them to earn ……..", said a Shikarawala, wishing peace and normalcy back on rails.
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