‘Halting apple-laden vehicles at Qazigund for days together causes damage to the perishable fruit’
JK News Today
Srinagar, September 15:
Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari and Praty’s Vice President Zaffar Iqbal Manhas have said that Kashmir’s fruit industry, especially the apple trade is forced to suffer hugely by denying a smooth passage of the fruit-laden truck on the national highway while they are on their way to the outside Valley.
In a statement issued here, both the leaders have said that apple-laden trucks from the various parts of the Valley are being unnecessarily stopped for days —sometimes more than a week — at the national highway near Qazi Gund. The hindrance in transportation is causing huge damage to the fruits especially apples —most perishable fruit.
“It is appreciable that the goods laden trucks from the outside are being facilitated an unhindered passage into the Valley, and the same manner should have been adopted for the trucks going outside from the Valley. But, sadly, the apple-laden vehicles from here are being stopped on the highway for days together in the name of traffic management.” The statement reads.
“When a perishable fruit is kept in waiting on the road for such a long time, it starts getting spoiled and eventually causes huge losses to the orchardists and the traders. The apples get spoiled and last for a shorter period of time if kept in the boxes and congested into the trucks for a long period.” The statement added.
It further said, “The fruit growers and traders of the Valley have time and again requested the administration for a smooth passage of fruit vehicles to outside Valley, but the concerned officials do not pay heed to these requests so far.”
Apni Party leaders have strongly urged the LG administration to ensure the ongoing practice of stopping apple-laden trucks on the highway is put to an end. They said, “Since apple trade forms a major part of the local economy and contributes sufficiently to our GDP, the government ought to ensure the trade faces no hindrance. Thus, the concerned officials must be strictly directed not to stop fruit-laden trucks from the Valley on the highway.”
Emphasizing on hassle-free transportation of fruit, the leaders said, “Seeing that the goods laden trucks from outside the valley are given smooth passage while the perishable fruit laden vehicles from this side are stopped and kept waiting for days has started creating doubts in the minds of the traders. Many assume that this is a deliberate attempt to spoil Valley’s fruit industry. To remove this wrong notion, the government must ensure a hassle-free passage to the fruit-laden vehicles on the national highway.”
