Srinagar: Kashmir’s fruit industry has called for a two-day shutdown of all fruit mandies across the Valley on September 14 and 15, in protest against the continued halting of fruit-laden trucks on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH44).
According to the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union, hundreds of trucks carrying perishable fruit have been stranded on the highway for several days, causing “massive damages and heavy losses” to growers and traders. The Union said the disruption has pushed mandies into crisis, with fresh consignments piling up and unable to move towards markets outside the Valley.
As part of the protest programme, all mandies will remain closed for business on both days. Peaceful demonstrations will also be held from 8 AM to 9 AM on September 14 and 15, the Union announced.
Fruit growers have been advised not to send fresh consignments to mandies until the highway is fully restored, as the markets are already jam-packed with unsold produce. The Union further urged orchardists not to rush into harvesting their apple and pear crops under the prevailing circumstances.
“This situation has caused unbearable losses to the horticulture sector, which is the backbone of Kashmir’s economy,” said Bashir Ahmad Basheer, Chairman of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union and President of The New Kashmir Fruit Association.
The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway is the Valley’s only all-weather road link with the rest of the country, and its frequent closures due to landslides and traffic restrictions have long been a source of frustration for traders and transporters.
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