The fruit growers across Kashmir Saturday said that they continue to face losses alleging that the government has failed to ensure hassle-free movement of apple-laden trucks on the national highway.
Several fruit growers and representatives of several associations told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that despite government orders, authorities have failed to implement it on the ground.
Nisar Ahmad, a fruit grower from south Kashmir said that directions passed by the government have been thrown to the wind as the government has failed to implement its own order on the ground. “Fruit-laden trucks are being halted at Qazigund for around week after that they get a turn to move towards Jammu,” he said.
He said that this industry is crumbling due to low rates and other challenges and if the government won’t ensure the hassle-free movement of the apple-laden trucks, this industry will definitely collapse.”
Muhammad Abbas, another grower said that this industry is facing several challenges at a time and government must at least ensure hassle movement of the apple-laden vehicles so that produce will reach markets on time and it will fetch a good rate.
He said that despite recent government vehicles get their turn after 4-5 days to move towards Jammu and when produce reaches to market very late, it didn’t gets the rate that it would get if it reaches market on time.
President Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union (KVFGCDU) Bashir Ahmad told KNO that they were hopeful that government will take this issue seriously and implement directions on ground but that didn’t happen and they are unable to understand what government wants
He said that it is matter of livelihood of around 60-70 percent of population of Kashmir and government must take it seriously.
He said that around 8,000 fruit laden trucks are waiting for their turn to move towards Jammu and it is not possible that they will cross the road in just three hours.
Ahmed said that representatives of all fruit growers Association protest in Srinagar today but despite protests nothing happened.
“In protest, we have decided to shut all our Mandi’s for two days (tomorrow and day after tomorrow) so that government can take this issue seriously and implement orders on ground,” he said.
Notably on Monday last, the IGP Traffic directed all SSPs of traffic including SSP National Highway to take immediate necessary measures so that fruit laden trucks are provided a smooth passage and are not stranded. “Besides, extra time may be given to down convoy to ensure clearance of stranded fruit laden vehicles and it was assured no vehicle would be allowed for up traffic on down HMV days to ensure hassle free movement.”—(KNO)