JAMMU: Even as the State Government and the Centre are struggling to restore order across Kashmir valley, hit by the ‘cycle of violence’ in the wake of killing of Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani, several Jammu based business houses are suffering in isolation and counting huge loses.
Though the famous trade body in the region Chamber of Commerce and Industries is yet to quantify the absolute losses, the common trader is hit hard by the long spell of violence going on unabated since July 9.
Uncertain future and fading hopes of business prospects getting revived is giving sleepless nights to the traders operating from Jammu. Barring a few prominent businessmen, large section of small traders is in deep crisis and eagerly awaiting restoration of peace and normalcy in the Kashmir valley.
Ironically, the public representatives from Jammu, who won massive mandate and enjoyed support of traders lobby, are yet to utter a word or two on the quantum of losses incurred by the traders from Jammu region and what steps they are going to take to mitigate their sufferings.
Both Jammu and Kashmir regions are interlinked commercially to maintain the crucial supply chain but ever since Kashmir has been witnessing ‘mindless violence’ across different district quarters the traders from Jammu, based in Nehru Market Ware House are left with no other option but to count mounting losses.
The long list of items which Jammu based traders supply to their vendors in Kashmir contain almost everything – food products, building material, medicines, etc.
In the past, businessmen from Jammu faced similar situations at the peak of Amarnath land row and during unrest of 2010 but on both the occasions they remained at the receiving end as the State and the Central governments announced sops and other incentives for traders in Kashmir valley but out-rightly ignored genuine demands of business community from Jammu.
Due to sharp divisions between the people of both the regions, a section of traders in Kashmir valley deliberately avoid repaying the installments in lieu of material supplied in advance by the Jammu based traders. These shop keepers when told to repay the money for material supplied often claims their goods perished or were spoiled during peak violence and they were not in a position to make necessary payments. At the same time these shop keepers often claim insurance claims in case of damages suffered.