Admn mulls restoring Internet in govt offices, hotels in Kashmir

Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 11

After lifting travel advisory for tourists in Kashmir, the Governor’s administration is seriously contemplating to grant Internet access to all government establishments and hotels across the Kashmir valley shortly.

Besides, the administration is also thinking over granting Internet access to print media organisations in view of the difficulties being faced by the journalists in Kashmir.

The move is seen as the part of the government’s Confidence Building Measure (CBM) against the backdrop of prolonging shutdown in the Kashmir valley post revocation of state’s special status on August 5.

Highly placed sources told The Tribune that the Governor’s administration may take a “positive call” on granting Internet access through broadband services to all government establishments, including various administrative and public-dealing offices, and hotels across Kashmir soon.

“On Thursday, the government issued a fresh advisory while lifting all restrictions on tourists visiting Kashmir. The grant of Internet access to hotels is under serious consideration as the authorities are hopeful of receiving normal footfall of visitors in the winter season,” the sources said.

On August 2, the state Home Department had issued an advisory asking tourists and Amarnath pilgrims to leave Kashmir due to ‘prevailing’ security threat. The decision was taken ahead of the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35-A. The mobile connectivity and Internet services were suspended in the Kashmir valley on August 5.

Sources said the communication blockade has also impacted the functioning of government offices adversely, forcing the administration to seriously consider the issue of granting Internet access to all government offices.

“Apart from government establishments and hotels, the government may also grant Internet access to print media organisations in view of problems being faced by the journalists,” the sources said.

Journalists in the Kashmir valley had been holding protests in favour of their demand for restoration of Internet services. They alleged that the local media had almost been rendered defunct following the communication blockade.