Amid, anger and frustration about the halting of Fruit-loaded trucks on national highway, fruit growers from different areas of Jammu and Kashmir, hit to Central Kashmir’s district Srinagar to register their protest against the administration.
Talking to a selected group of media person, fruits growers as per Kashmir Bulletin–(KB), said that government on one hand is issuing advisor but on the other-hand, no action is being seen on ground level. We have visited Ramban on our own, inorder to inspect, but saw no progress.
“We have sent a written proposal to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sina, and to Chief Secretary and to the Additional Chief Secretary also, but there was no response as of now. We the fruit growers are very much depressed and now we have came to know that Union Home Minister, Amit Shah is arriving in the Valley, and we request our Administration to let us meet him, so this issue will come in his knowledge,” said the protesters.
We are hopeful that our Home Minister will help us and resolve our issues by lending ear to our requests. We have also sent a written proposal to Union Ministery, and if they allow us we will travel to Delhi too,” they said.
“As of now, we request the administration to release our fruit-loaded trucks from national highway and allow them to move forward,” they said.
Moreover, traffic police Kashmir as per Kashmir Bulletin–(KB), informed that, “HMVs which were released from Qazigund towards Jammu yesterday have been stuck between Ramban and Banihal due to intermittent shooting stones at Cafeteria Morh Ramban on Jammu-Srinagar NHW. In view of the above HMVs from Jakheni (Udhampur) towards Srinagar will not be allowed today.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole, informed that all stranded Jammu bound trucks will be cleared by tonight, and around 4000 truck on way.
“46, 000 goods laden trucks including 29000 apple trucks have been sent out of Kashmir since September 01.”
“The claim made by certain Fruit growers association on the halting of fruit trucks is half truth and natural reasons are hindering traffic. He also said that, we have difficulties in the movement of traffic on the highway due to rains and resultant shooting stones which is beyond human control”, reads the statement.
“Normally apple production in Kashmir is 17 metric ton but due to abundant rainfall, there has been a bumper crop and will cross 21 metric ton. Use alternate Mughal road to lessen the burden on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, appeals Div Com.”
Administration is making all efforts to maintain the flow. Drivers of empty vehicles appealed to use Mughal road, he added.