Losses during J&K unrest will take decades to recover: Minister

The losses suffered by various sectors of Jammu and Kashmir during the last few months of unrest in the valley would take decades to compensate, the state's rural development minister Ali Mohammad Sagar has said.

"The losses suffered by the people of various sectors like economy, education and tourism (during the months of unrest) are colossal and it would take decades to compensate for the same," Sagar said at a public gathering at Khag in central Kashmir's Budgam district yesterday.

"The people who are bent on plunging the state into chaos and confusion are directly responsible for the loss of human lives and other things witnessed during the time," he said.

More than 100 people were killed in protests which brought the Kashmir Valley to a grinding halt during summer this year.

The minister appealed to the people to come forward and help the government in restoring peace and implementing various developmental projects.

"By doing so, you would be effectively contributing your bit which forms the basis of any democratic setup," he said.

Sagar, who also heads the ministry of law and parliamentary affairs, said it is unfortunate that innocent lives were lost during the unrest.

Peace is essential for overall development of the state, he said.