Shazia Masood
Srinagar: Keeping restrictions across Kahsmir valley, while paying ways for tourism have angered local residents in the region.
As per the reports, on July 8, the J&K government had decided to open parks and gardens for the public. And four days later, the administration imposed severe restrictions on public movement and announced to reopen tourism in the valley amid spike in Covid-19 positive cases.
“Government has reopened the tourism sectors for non natives but has imposed restrictions in public movements for natives this is totally unfair and unjust with the natives,” said a student of Woman’s college M.A.Road.
Criticising the government, she further added educational institutions are closed from August, 2019, while government is allowing tourists to visit Valley, which i fail to understand.
“If people can enjoy pure oxygen in public parks, then what is the problem with oxygen at colleges and Universities,”Dr. Suhail Naik, consultant paediatrician and president of Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK), tweeted.
Another student from GDC Pulwama said, “There are strict rules for the movement of the locals and at the same time tourists can move freely. Students can follow SOP in a better way than anyone else and they will strictly adhere to the preventive measures.
Since students have gained enough knowledge about covid-19 and its precautionary measures, yet they are deprived of their right to acquire knowledge and the gates of educational institutions are fastened from August last year.” What will be the future of the students, he added.
Shahid Choudhary, district magistrate and development commissioner, Srinagar, said that the number of positive cases of COVID-19 has seen a sharp spike in recent weeks in the Kashmir Valley and restrictions are being imposed in many areas of Kashmir valley to control the covid-19 spread.
“In view of a major spike in COVID-19, we’ll have to carve out containment zones for effective restrictions in different areas of Srinagar. Local cooperation is solicited in best interest of public health. Notified,” Shahid Choudhary said in a tweet.
