Abid Bashir Wani | Citizen Matters

Emotions run high as markets in Srinagar reopen after 85-day lockdown

June 29, 2020 Abid Bashir Wani

Srinagar markets are open and business is gradually picking up. But customers are still few, and many traders are yet to get over the loss they have suffered.

Meet the man behind Srinagar’s determined COVID-19 fight: Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu

June 13, 2020 Abid Bashir Wani

“In the long run, we have to move beyond lockdowns and remain vigilant… we need to make certain changes in our lives,” said the flamboyant, active mayor of Srinagar in an exclusive interview.

Growing vegetables, storing rice: Lessons from Srinagar that has seen and survived many lockdowns

April 21, 2020 Abid Bashir Wani

The people of Kashmir have learnt some important survival lessons from coping with decades of conflict and resulting restrictions. So much so that Kashmiris living elsewhere are now calling home for advice on how to cope with life under lockdown.

Srinagar: COVID-19, two deaths, 45 positive cases and counting…

March 31, 2020 Abid Bashir Wani

The story is familiar. A few people returning from abroad, ignoring quarantine, meeting family and friends and then testing positive. A preacher, in particular, may have spread the virus far and wide in Kashmir.

How Srinagar’s historic hub is losing its centuries-old glory

March 18, 2020 Abid Bashir Wani

Downtown Srinagar is still the place you should visit to sample the real essence of Kashmir — its artistic, social, cultural and spiritual heritage. But decades of official neglect and social unrest is slowly killing it all.

In Srinagar, houseboats and their builders face extinction

February 12, 2020 Abid Bashir Wani

On one hand, strict High Court guidelines prohibit new registration of houseboats in Dal and Nigeen lakes in Srinagar. On the other, there are just three master craftsmen left, who can build these boats, the older ones among which are in decrepit state.

18000 crore rupees, nearly 5 lakh jobs lost as Kashmir reels under internet suspension

January 3, 2020 Abid Bashir Wani

Those are just the figures since August 5th, as quoted in a report from the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Underlying these figures is the angst of thousands who did not get their salaries, students who struggled to prepare for crucial exams and many more.

Why many migrant waste-pickers stayed back in Srinagar despite fears and uncertainty

December 11, 2019 Abid Bashir Wani

Hospitable, caring and offering opportunities for a decent living — that is how most of them see the city. Thus, despite the tension and reports of attacks on non-Kashmiris in the days following the abrogation of Article 370, they decided to stay put. And they have not regretted it.

Blocked roads, waterlogging, power cuts: Kashmiri cities caught in unseasonal snow fury

November 20, 2019 Abid Bashir Wani

It’s only the second time in a decade that Kashmir has seen such heavy snowfall in November, and it has made lives more difficult for citizens, already facing the effects of a three-month lockdown. Here’s how the administration and people are coping with the vagaries of an early winter.

Waste woes in Paradise: Srinagar’s struggle to clear garbage from streets during lockdown

November 7, 2019 Abid Bashir Wani

In the days following abrogation of Article 370, Srinagar became a stinking mess, as municipal staff were unable to report to work and mounds of garbage accumulated on streets. While proactive officers and safai karamcharis have managed to tide over the crisis in the face of odds, waste management in the city needs serious fixes for the long term.