ZT NEWS NETWORK
Srinagar: Kashmir valley fruits growers and dealers associations have written to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today expressing dismay and frustration that fruit-laden trucks are unnecessarily being stooped at various spots of Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH44) causing heavy damages of already suffering fruit industry of the valley.
Ziraat Times here reproduces the full text of the letter written by Bashir Ahmad Basheer, Chairman, Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers cum Dealers Union and President of the New Kashmir Fruit Association.
The Hon’ble LT. Governor J&K (UT) is informed through this press note that the harvesting of apple and pear is nowadays at peak which in every case requires to be transported to different stations outside J&K (UT) on priority in view of its shortest life.
Since Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH44) is one of the biggest challenge for Valley Based Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Fruit laden trucks are unnecessarily and intentionally stopped on various spots at Srinagar-Jammu National Highway for days together. In fact only those trucks are allowed to go ahead the drivers of which are paying huge amount to traffic personnel when rest of the trucks are put in ques.
The Fruit laden trucks when are allowed to move forward after stopping for days together arrives in outside Mandi’s all together with the result the apple/pear which arrives in abundant doesn’t not fetch even its actual cost.
The Valley Based Fruit Growers Cum Dealers are facing constant heavy losses since devastating flood of 2014, followed by roll back of article 370 and 35A in the month of August 2019, Natural Disaster of November 2019 and outbreak of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) the off and on closure of Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH44) creates additional losses which has now become acute anxiety for Fruit Growers /Dealers of the Valley.
In this connection this Union have made all possible efforts and had several meetings with Lt. Governor’s administration when it was ensured that fruit laden trucks will be allowed to move forward on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway without any interruption. Though the concerned authorities of the government have issued strict instructions for un-interrupted transport of fruit laden trucks on Srinagar–Jammu National Highway but it is unfortunate that these instructions are not implemented on ground. This Union is of the opinion that the traffic coming from Jammu to Srinagar creates jamming in the way which is the main factor of stoppage of fruit laden trucks meant for outside J&K stations. In fact trucks coming from Jammu are stopped at Udhampur for days together and trucks from Valley are allowed to go ahead from tunnel only when tail end truck number is communicated to the traffic personnel deployed at tunnel but it is unfortunate that tail end truck is intentionally is not communicated forward with the result the Valley Based Fruit loaded trucks continues to stuck this side of tunnel for days together. There is a big Mafia and it has become a routine of traffic Authorities only those trucks are allowed to move forward the drivers of which are paying handsome amount in the shape of bribe whosoever will not greaze the palms of traffic personnel he is not allowed to move forward.
The KVFG Union Srinagar, Under the circumstances explained above is requested though this press note kindly look into the matter personally and issue strict instructions to all concerned for un-interrupted traffic of fruit laden trucks on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway so that the Valley Based Fruit Growers cum Dealers who have suffered constantly heavy losses since devastating flood of 2014 could have a sigh of relief.
The Lt Governors administration is requested kindly look into this mafia and trace out the culprit who so ever may be and disciplined reaction against him may kindly be initiated as warranted under rules.