Reacting to reports that non-local companies have bagged a majority of contracts for the extraction of minerals from the water bodies of Kashmir, former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah said that the ban on high speed mobile internet has impacted local businesses as they are unable to participate in online bidding for tenders and contracts.

“The ban on high speed mobile internet impacts local businesses in Kashmir as they are unable to participate in online bidding for tenders & contracts. #4ginkashmir #Kashmir,” Mr Abdullah, who is the Vice President of National Conference (NC), wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.

For the first time ever, non-local companies have bagged a majority of contracts for the extraction of minerals from the water bodies of Kashmir. The bidding was held online, though high speed internet is still restricted in J&K.

High speed internet, including 4G services of all Cellular companies, remained suspended in Kashmir valley since August 5 last year, when centre scrapped Article 370 and divided the state into two Union Territories (UTs).

Only 2 G internet service was resumed in January this year after the Supreme Court (SC) directed the UT administration to review providing of internet facilities to consumers after every week. In the latest review, the committee decided that only 2G speed internet will continue in the Jammu and Kashmir till July 8.
       

The administration has claimed that a large number of militants have been killed by security forces without adversely impacting the public order and this has been possible because data services were not misused to spread rumours.

However, locals -- including businessmen, students and professionals -- have claimed that they are suffering due to frequent gag on mobile internet and complete suspension of high speed internet. Many schools had to postpone on-line examinations because of frequent gag on internet or low speed internet.