Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Sep 12: Fruit growers across Kashmir are worried as according to them they are facing hurdles in the transportation of apples to outside markets.
Growers told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that with apple harvest, growers have started sending their consignments to different markets but fruit laden trucks are allowed to move towards Jammu for only two to three hours on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway.
They said that trucks remain stuck in Qazigund area for two to three days causing economic losses to them.
They requested LG led administration to look into the matter and take immediate steps in this regard so that they would not suffer anymore.
President of Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers cum Dealers Union, which is an elected apex body of all Fruit Growers Associations in the Valley, Basheer Ahmad Basheer told KNO that they have written to LG in this regard and are waiting for his positive response.
He said that harvesting of apple and pear crops is presently picking up and needs to be transported on a war footing basis to destinations across the country.
“It is unfortunate that due to shooting stones at various spots on Srinagar–Jammu National Highway (NH44) the Governor’s Administration has allowed one way traffic so that repair work on the road is carried out. But the traffic from Valley towards Jammu is allowed only for 3-4 hours,” he said.
“It is not possible to cross the fruit loaded trucks within 3-4 hours with the result apple/pear in trucks are stopped on the way for 2-3 days resulting in damages to the fruit,” he added
He suggested that fruit laden trucks should be allowed to ply daily from 11 am to 3pm so that they could reach their respective destinations well in time—(KNO)
