Srinagar, June 28: Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union and the New Kashmir Fruit Association in a joint letter to J&K’s Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta on 28 June have called upon the administration to facilitate smooth movement of fruit laden trucks from Kashmir valley to other parts of the country through the National Highway 44.
In a letter written by Bashir Ahmad Basheer – Chairman Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union and president of the New Kashmir Fruit Association – a copy of which has been made available to Ziraat Times, the influential fruit trading bodies have requested personal intervention by the chief secretary so that the fruit laden trucks are not stopped for long periods on the highway in the interests of the farmers whose livelihoods depend on this fruit harvest.
Ziraat Times here reproduces the full text of the letter:
Shri Arun Kumar (IAS)
Chief Secretary J&K (UT)
Civil Secretariat Srinagar
Respected Sir,
With great respects and humble submission its is informed that this Union is an Umbrella Apex Body of all Fruit Growers Associations of the Valley and would like to submit following few lines for your favorable consideration:
1. The harvesting of the earlier varieties of Fresh Fruits like Cherry, Plum, Apricot and Pear is in full swing. Since these varieties are considered most perishable fruits and therefore, needs to be transported to various destinations outside J&K (UT) on war footing basis so that Valley Based Fruit Growers may not suffer heavy losses.
2. There are standing guidelines of the Government Agencies and Traffic Authorities as well for allowing uninterrupted transportation of fresh fruits loaded trucks on priority even against convoy on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH44) so that fresh fruit load may not get damaged.
3. Due to recent continued rainfall the plum crop which is treated extremely delicious has fully ripen and, therefore, warrants immediate transportation outside J&K (UT).
4. It is unfortunate that all these fresh Fruit loaded trucks are often stopped in the way particularly from Banihal to Ramban and are not allowed to move forward instead the loaded trucks coming from Jammu Division are smoothly allowed to move forward towards Kashmir Division.
5. The life of Cherry/Plum expires within a day only and in case if these earlier varieties of fresh Fruits are not transported quickly the same will get fully damaged causing heavy losses to valley Based Fruit Growers.
6. As and when the fresh fruit loaded trucks are allowed by the Traffic Authorities the same are once again immediately stopped. In this connection a copy of traffic message (collected from reliable sources) allowing fruit loaded trucks by the Traffic Authorities on NH44 is appended herewith for kind perusal.
7. In fact the acute traffic jamming takes place on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH44) From Banihal to Ramban due to mismanagement of Traffic Personnel.
The lack of manpower of traffic personnel is also one of root reason. Had there been sufficient manpower of traffic personnel the jamming of traffic could be avoided. The deployment of sufficient number of traffic personnel particularly from Banihal to Ramban of Srinagar-Jammu National Highway is essentially required for smooth traffic on the NH44.
8. The Valley Based Fruit Growers would have preferred for transportation their fresh Fruits from alternate route (Mughal Road) but the said route too remains often closed due to one or the other reason.
Under the circumstances explained above your goodself is requested kindly direct all Concerned Authorities of the Government and Traffic Authorities as well for allowing all fresh fruit loaded truck including apple crop on priority even against convoy on daily basis smoothly as per past practice round the clock for its safe arrival to various destinations outside J&K (UT) so that the Valley Based Fruit Growers who are extremely anxious in this behalf may have a sigh of relief.
With great regards,
Yours Sincerely,
(Bashir Ahmad Basheer) Chairman
Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union President
The New Kashmir Fruit Association
