Tourism revenue has been lost to extent of billions of dollars owing to dormant industry and large scale displacement of Pandits, Sikhs and Muslims due to frequent riots have resulted in enormous suffering of human resources. Significant migration from the valley has happened due to lack of opportunities and overall dismal scenario. Educated youth from the valley moved to other parts of the country is search of better job and work opportunities.
There was considerable tourist movement in the state until mid-eighties. In 1988, nearly 7 lakh tourists visited the valley. The tourism industry was given a special status as it was a means to livelihood to many and also a source of revenue for the government.
A separate budget was allocated to the development and beautification of the resorts before the advent of militancy in the state. But this had to be curtailed to counter terrorist activities and the well maintained gardens turned into bushes. Timber smugglers and other people involved in illegal and deceitful acts also caused reckless destruction of the resorts. Land encroachment became a phenomenon due to the state of disorder that prevailed. The land turned into a frenzy of war and conflict with valley reverberating with gun shots. The life of the people was limited to a barricaded world where outsiders feared to enter risking their lives.
The Dal Lake which had clear and pristine water once became a storehouse of cow dung and sewage around its periphery. Even Mansbal was illegally encroached with vegetable gardens, toilets, residential structure, and garbage dumping sites etc. resulting in the pollution of its surroundings. Its water floated garbage including Wrappers, plastic bags, rags, vegetables peelings, empty cigarette cases etc. affecting the look and scenic beauty of the lake.
Businesses failed and hotel owners lost the interest in improving the infrastructure deteriorating their properties as they were hardly able to earn any income of out it. Development and improvement were too far from their reach. Almost 1094 houseboats in Dal Lake, Nigeen Lake and River Jhelum were rendered idle and people employed in their operations were left jobless.
Around 2000 “Shikarawallas” met an equally ill fate with occupancy rates going considerably low. Even industries like horticulture, handicraft besides tourism and agriculture were equally affected adversely.
The decades of turmoil also hampered the peace and stability even which was not possible to achieve without meeting the basic needs of people in the absence of economic growth. The state is still far behind other states in economic growth at national level. Huge impact on public and private properties resulted from conflicts and insurgencies that prevailed.
It was only around 2002, that the children in the valley started growing without hearing the sounds of bullets and rocket launchers. Intensified patrolling along the borders and improved efforts of police and security forces slowed down the infiltration. It can be said that Kashmir is finally seeing a day of hope and peace. A tremendous influx of tourist flocking the beautiful valleys and mountains of Kashmir is reported.
Nearly 5 lakh tourists visited the valley in 2011 with an estimated 9 lakh expected to visit by September 2012. Indian tourists cheered the year when they could finally take a peaceful Shikara ride across the Dal Lake or venture to stride out in the deep dense forests of pine and deodar.
Waning terrorism in Kashmir has adversely affected the tourism in states of Himachal Pradesh with declining number of summer tourists who preferred visiting Kashmir. With the wheels of time turning in its favor, the economic progress has also started showing in Kashmir.
Bollywood which targeted Kashmir for framing its majestic valleys in 80’s and early 90’s but had to recede because of terrorism is beginning to structure more and more movies in the metamorphosing land of Kashmir.
The hopes must be kept high that no dismal years of economic, political, social and developmental stagnation revisit the valley to set back the clock for the progressive people and prospering state of Kashmir. If peace prevails, much of what has been lost can be regained and revived.
टिप्पणियाँ
एक टिप्पणी भेजें