States »NortPosted at: May 24 2021 5:30PM Kashmir remains under lockdown; dairy farmers pour milk down drain in protest
Srinagar, May 24 (UNI) Strict restrictions continued for the fourth successive week as the COVID curfew, which was supposed to end on Monday morning, was extended for another week till May 31 in view of no significant dip in the number of fresh Coronavirus cases in Kashmir valley.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Monday also declared black fungus or ’Mucormycosis’ an epidemic disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act- 1897 in the Union Territory.
Meanwhile, unable to sell amid strict restrictions, the dairy farmers on Monday poured milk down the drain as a protest in south Kashmir’s Pulwama, which is the highest producer of milk in the valley.
Despite designated as an essential commodity, the dairy farmers alleged that they are finding it difficult to sell milk and other dairy product following a significant dip in the demand due to closure of restaurants, hotels and markets. “We are not getting access to markets due to COVID curfew. About 60 per cent of the milk produced in the district is getting wasted as the milk processing factories are only procuring 40 per cent of the production due to decline in the demand,” Shabir Ahmad, a dairy farmer said.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday extended the COVID curfew, which was supposed to end on May 23, by another week till May 31 in all 20 districts of the Union Territory amid no letup in the number of fresh coronavirus cases and deaths.
Even though the spread of COVID-19 has dipped significantly in Srinagar, which still remains the highest contributor to the infection tally, the simultaneous rise in fresh cases across other districts in the valley is sustaining the spike. Barring Shopian, the number of fresh COVID-19 cases recorded everyday in the rest of the districts of the valley has remained in three digits, indicating that the virus has spread to villages and far-flung areas.
This is the fourth successive extension of COVID curfew since April 29 in the valley, where the vaccination drive has picked up after severe criticism over non-availability of jabs for several weeks.
However, ignoring personal safety, besides appeals by Ulamas and religious scholars to adhere to COVID curfew imposed to break the chain, people continue to hit the streets in the valley, where thousands of violators have been fined and arrested while hundreds of vehicles have been seized since April 29.
A heavy rush of people was again witnessed in the morning on the roads, besides outside banks and ATMs in the city and other parts of the valley, where police had to intervene and sent them back to their homes. Later, streets again wore a deserted look while shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the roads in the valley, including Srinagar.
Standalone shops -- selling fruits, vegetables, grocery, milk and other dairy products -- have been allowed to function between 0600 hrs and 1000 hrs every day amid strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols, including ensuring social distancing in Srinagar and other districts in the valley.
All the roads and market places, including Lal Chowk, the the nerve centre of the summer capital remained sealed to prevent movement of people. Shops and businesses established were closed while all the roads were deserted as traffic and people were off the roads in downtown, civil lines, uptown in Srinagar. But, people with emergency or associated with essential services, including doctors and paramedics were allowed to move on the roads after proper verification at various checkpoints established by police.
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