Vikas Sharma
Jammu Tawi, April 22: The nation is in the grip of second wave of the novel coronavirus and so is the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. In the first wave of corona pandemic we have witnessed massive migration of workers despite many assurances by the various State governments to migrant workers to not move and once again the history is repeating. The world was brought to standstill during the first wave of the corona virus.
The upsurge of COVID-19 once again is going to prove fatal for various developmental works as the migrant workers, who are mostly from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have gone to their native places to celebrate the famous Holi festival, which was just before the upsurge of the COVID-19 cases.
The migration of workers has created shortage in Jammu and Kashmir. Many mega developmental projects are in progress in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir which is considered as dream projects of the government. Many road projects including four-laning of Jammu-Srinagar are in progress. Similarly, connecting Kashmir valley with rest of India through railway line is a dream project of the Central government which is near completion and has missed many deadlines earlier. Work on many educational institutions and hospitals at Jammu and Srinagar are in progress but the shortage of labourers is going to affect these projects badly.
It is all happening because these migrant workers are now unable to move from their native places to workplaces. Strict measures to check the inflow of outsiders were imposed at Lakhanpur—the gateway of Jammu and Kashmir. Even the families of these migrant workers are not willing to allow their dear ones to move out at a time when corona is at peak.
Moreover, the strict and complex procedure at borders is one major hurdle in the migration of these labourers. The government must look into this and ensure safe journey of these labourers so that along with containing the spread of the novel corona virus the mega projects be completed well in time.
Besides shortage of labourers these projects are also facing shortage in supply of material being used in the construction. The administration must ensure supply of material to these projects.
Moreover, the government must ease procedure for migrant workers to reach Jammu and Kashmir and provide them all required facilities separately for testing and other formalities.
During 2020 many mega projects of the government held in abeyance as the borders were sealed completely and workers were not allowed to enter Jammu and Kashmir. The move has delayed many mega projects.
The mega projects like construction of ring road or Express Highway will reduce the travel distance, completion of railway line will provide alternate link to Kashmir valley which may ease the problem of people during road shutdowns, completion of educational institutions will provide students an opportunity to study here.
